Vertical takeoff and landing airframe
First Claim
1. An aircraft, comprising:
- a fuselage;
opposed wings extending from opposed sides of the fuselage;
a plurality of engines, wherein at least one engine is mounted to each of the opposed wings;
wherein at least a portion of each opposed wing including at least one of the plurality of engines rotates relative to the fuselage around a rotation axis that is non-perpendicular and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage between a first configuration adapted for vertical take-off and landing, and a second configuration adapted for horizontal flight,wherein the plurality of engines provide lift to the aircraft in the first configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Airframes configured for stable in-flight transition between forward flight and vertical takeoff and landing are described herein. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, opposed wings extending from opposed sides of the fuselage, and a plurality of engines. At least one engine can be mounted to each of the opposed wings and at least a portion of each opposed wing including at least one of the plurality of engines can rotate relative to the fuselage around a rotation axis that is non-perpendicular and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage. Rotating portions of the wings including at least one of the plurality of engines in the described manner can provide a stable and smooth transition between vertical and forward flight.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An aircraft, comprising:
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a fuselage; opposed wings extending from opposed sides of the fuselage; a plurality of engines, wherein at least one engine is mounted to each of the opposed wings; wherein at least a portion of each opposed wing including at least one of the plurality of engines rotates relative to the fuselage around a rotation axis that is non-perpendicular and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage between a first configuration adapted for vertical take-off and landing, and a second configuration adapted for horizontal flight, wherein the plurality of engines provide lift to the aircraft in the first configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An aircraft, comprising:
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a fuselage; opposed wings extending from opposed sides of the fuselage; a plurality of engines, wherein at least one engine is mounted to each of the opposed wings; wherein at least a portion of each opposed wing including at least one of the plurality of engines rotates relative to the fuselage around a rotation axis that is non-perpendicular and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage between a first configuration adapted for vertical take-off and landing, and a second configuration adapted for horizontal flight, and wherein the wings do not produce lift in the first configuration.
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26. A vertical take-off or landing method, comprising:
- rotating at least a portion of a wing having an engine mounted thereto relative to a fuselage around a rotation axis that is non-perpendicular and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage to orient the engine and a leading edge of the wing vertically for hovering;
actuating the engine to produce vertical lift; and rotating the at least portion of the wing having the engine mounted thereto to orient the engine and a leading edge of the wing horizontally for forward flight. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
- rotating at least a portion of a wing having an engine mounted thereto relative to a fuselage around a rotation axis that is non-perpendicular and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage to orient the engine and a leading edge of the wing vertically for hovering;
Specification