Multicopter with wide span rotor configuration

• US 10,086,931 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Inventors: Reichert, Todd, Robertson, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/249,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20180057155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 35/00 Flying-boats; Seaplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A multicopter aircraft with a wide span rotor configuration is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. The plurality of rotors includes inner rotors and outer rotors, with the inner rotors being substantially surrounded by the outer rotors or the fuselage. The inner rotors and the outer rotors may be tilted based at least in part on their arrangement in relation to the fuselage.

Claims

1. A multicopter comprising:

a fuselage and a plurality of rotors,

wherein the plurality of rotors comprises inner rotors and outer rotors, and

wherein the inner rotors are substantially surrounded by one or more other rotors, the fuselage, or a combination of one or more other rotors and the fuselage; and

wherein the plurality of rotors are arranged to provide an overall width to length ratio ranging from 1.7 to 3 for the multicopter and the multicopter has a length of 88 inches or less.

2. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors are tilted.

3. The multicopter of claim 1, comprising a wide span rotor configuration.

4. The multicopter of claim 1, comprising ten rotors.

5. The multicopter of claim 1, comprising three rotors adjacent to a side of the fuselage, two rotors adjacent to the three rotors, three rotors adjacent to an opposite side of the fuselage, and two rotors adjacent to the three rotors adjacent to the opposite side of the fuselage.

6. The multicopter of claim 4, wherein the inner rotors comprise a middle rotor of the three rotors adjacent to the side of the fuselage and a middle rotor of the three rotors adjacent to the opposite side of the fuselage.

7. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors and the outer rotors are arranged for maximum disc area and maximum wing span.

8. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the multicopter is optimized to fly over water.

9. The multicopter of claim 8, wherein flotation devices are attached on either side of the fuselage.

10. The multicopter of claim 8, wherein rotors are attached to the flotation devices.

11. The multicopter of claim 8, wherein a height of the flotation devices is greater than a width of the flotation devices.

12. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the multicopter is able to be driven by the inner rotors.

13. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors are tilted forwards.

14. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors and the outer rotors rotate in differing planes.

15. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the tips of the inner rotors and the outer rotors are overlapped.

16. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein four rotors closest to the front of the multicopter are tilted backwards, four rotors adjacent to the four rotors closest to the front of the multicopter are tilted forwards, and two rotors closest to the back of the multicopter are tilted backwards.

17. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the fuselage comprises an enclosed cabin.

18. The multicopter of claim 1, comprising a steering mechanism.