SELF-LEVELING SUPPORT APPARATUS

Abstract

Provided is a self-leveling support apparatus for use with a UAV or stationary device such as a table or ladder, the apparatus having multiple leg members, each associated with a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder; a connection among the hydraulic or pheumatic cylinders such that they share a common reservoir of fluid; a locking mechanism that obstructs free flow of fluid among the cylinders and stabilizes the UAV or stationary device without the need for electronic sensors or control systems.

Claims

1. A self-leveling support device for use with an associated unit, the self-leveling support device comprising: two or more fluid cylinders each having a piston rod extending in a downward angle and a housing the upper end of which is attached to the unit being supported; wherein the cylinders are connected by one or more fluid lines configured to allow the cylinders to share a single reservoir of fluid such that compression of one cylinder resulting from contact between the piston rod and a surface produces elongation of the other cylinders.

2. The self-leveling support device of claim 1 further comprising a foot member attached to the lower end of each piston rod and adapted to provide traction as appropriate to the application.

3. The self-leveling support device of claim 1 further comprising a leg member hingedly attached at a point along its midsection to a point near the lower end of each piston rod and with its upper end hingedly attached to the unit being supported.

4. The self-leveling support device of claim 1 further comprising one or more locking valves disposed in the fluid lines connecting the cylinders such that activation of the locking valve or valves prevents flow of fluid among the cylinders.

5. The self-leveling support device of claim 3 wherein the locking valves each comprise a piston that accesses the fluid such that the piston is displaced, and the locking valve activated, by an increase above a threshold value in pressure of the fluid in the cylinders and lines.

6. The self-leveling support device of claim 3 wherein the locking valves are activated by means of an electronic control system.

7. The self-leveling support device of claim 3 wherein the locking valves are activated by means of a solenoid electrically connected to a pressure sensor disposed to detect pressure of the fluid.

8. The self-leveling support device of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises hydraulic fluid.

9. A self-leveling support device for use as a landing gear apparatus for an associated UAV, the self-leveling support device comprising: two or more pneumatic cylinders each having a piston rod extending only downward and a housing the upper end of which is attached to the unit being supported; wherein the cylinders are connected by one or more pneumatic lines configured to allow the cylinders to share a single volume of gas such that compression of one cylinder produces elongation of others.

10. The self-leveling support device of claim 9 further comprising a foot member attached to the lower end of each piston rod and adapted to provide traction as appropriate to the application.

11. The self-leveling support device of claim 9 further comprising a leg member hingedly attached at a point along its midsection to the lower end of each piston rod and with the upper end of the leg member hingedly attached to the unit being supported.

12. The self-leveling support device of claim 9 further comprising one or more locking valves disposed in the hydraulic lines connecting the cylinders such that activation of the locking valve or valves prevents flow of fluid among the cylinders.

13. The self-leveling support device of claim 12 wherein the locking valve or valves are activated by an increase above a threshold value in the pressure of the gas in the cylinders and lines.

14. The self-leveling support device of claim 12 wherein the locking valves are activated by means of an electronic control system.

15. The self-leveling support device of claim 12 wherein the locking valves are activated by means of a solenoid electrically connected to a pressure sensor disposed to detect pressure of the gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention, a self-leveling support device (the “invention”), may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a cut-away schematic diagram showing a simplified version of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a simplified version of an embodiment of the invention that includes a locking feature.

[0019] FIGS. 3A and 3B show embodiments of the invention that include an automatic passive locking system.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a functional prototype of the invention reduced to practice in a configuration that includes four legs.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows the same functional prototype of the invention showing greater detail of the hydraulic connections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the self-leveling support device (the “invention”) only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 1, leg A and leg B of the unit being supported (i.e., the UAV, table, ladder, etc., (“unit”)) are each fitted with a cylinder comprising a housing 10A/10B, a piston rod 20A/20B. A line 30 that comprises either a flexible tube or rigid channel connects the cylinders. A fluid is disposed within the reservoir formed by line 30 and cavities bounded by the cylinder housings 10A/10B and the upper ends of piston rods 20A/20B. The fluid fully occupies the reservoir within the line 30 and the cylinder cavities and is allowed to flow freely through the line 30 and within the cylinders such that compression of piston rod 20A produces an elongation of piston rod 20B and vice versa. The fluid is denoted in the diagram by the dotted and dashed hatched area. The fluid in the invention can be air or any other fluid such as hydraulic fluid.

[0024] When piston rod 20A contacts an independent surface, such as a landing area, as the unit is lowered, the piston rod 20A displaces the fluid contained in housing 10A. As a result, the fluid travels through the line 30 and produces elongation of the other piston rod 20B until it likewise contacts the surface (not shown). When both piston rod 20A and piston rod 20B come into contact with the surface (not shown), the fluid has nowhere else to go and the unit comes to rest in the level orientation at which it was lowered.

[0025] In one embodiment, a foot member (not shown) is attached to the lower end of each piston rod 20A/20B.

[0026] In another embodiment, the lower end of each piston rod 20A/20B attaches to a point along the midsection of a leg (not shown) whose upper end is hingedly secured to the unit being supported and whose lower end contacts the landing surface (not shown).

[0027] With reference to FIG. 2, line 30 that connects housings 10A/10B can include one or more locking valves 40 that, when activated, interrupts the flow of fluid between the cylinders. When activated, this locking valve prevents the further displacement of any fluid, which holds the piston rods 20A/20B in a stationary position and allows the unit to be fixed in a stable orientation. When the locking valve is deactivated, it opens and allows the fluid to move freely between cylinders and within line 30.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 3, the line that connects cylinders 10 can be split into two channels 30A/30B. Each channel 30A/30B can include a locking valve 40A/40B that is activated when the pressure of hydraulic fluid increases above a threshold pressure. When both piston rods 20A/20B are in contact with the ground or other surface, the fluid pressure in the system increases, closing both valves 40A/40B and interrupting the flow of fluid between the housings 10A/10B. This locking feature allows the unit to be fixed in a stable orientation automatically when resting its full weight on the ground or when an additional downward force is applied.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the locking valves 40A/40B may be activated by means of an electronic control system (not shown).

[0030] According to another embodiment, the locking valves 40A/40B may be activated by means of solenoid (not shown) electrically connected to a pressure sensor (not shown) disposed within the system to detect pressure of the hydraulic fluid.

[0031] According to another embodiment, each hydraulic cylinder is replaced with a pneumatic cylinder according to the specific application.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 4, four legs support a simplified structural unit 50 comprising structural members connected to four pneumatic cylinders, each including a housing 10 and piston rod 20. The cylinders are connected by a line 30 such that compression of one cylinder produces elongation of one or more of the others.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 5, four legs support a simplified structural unit 50 comprising structural members connect to four pneumatic cylinders, each including a housing 10 and piston rod 20. The cylinders are all connected together by a line 30, allowing fluid to be shared in a common reservoir among all cylinders.

[0034] Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.

[0035] When the word “associated” is used in the claims, the intention is that the object so labeled is not positively claimed but rather describes an object with which the claimed object may be used.

[0036] Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: