Vehicles particularly useful as VTOL vehicles

• US 20050242231A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Urban Aeronautics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Urban Aeronautics Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoeli, Rafi
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/23.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/06 wherein the cushion is formed within plenum chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 3/02 Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage

Abstract

A vehicle including a fuselage, at least one lift-producing propeller carried by the fuselage on each side of its transverse axis a pilot'"'"'s compartment formed in the fuselage between the lift-producing propellers and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a pair of payload bays formed in the fuselage between the lift-producing propellers and on opposite sides of the pilot'"'"'s compartment. Many variations are described enabling the vehicle to be used not only as a VTOL vehicle, but also as a multi-function utility vehicle for performing many diverse functions including hovercraft and ATV functions.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis;

at least one lift-producing propeller carried by said fuselage on each side of said transverse axis;

a pilot'"'"'s compartment formed in said fuselage between said lift-producing propellers and substantially aligned with said longitudinal axis;

a pair of payload bays formed in said fuselage between said lift-producing propellers and on opposite sides of said pilot'"'"'s compartment; and

at least one thrust-producing propeller at the rear end of said fuselage.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said fuselage includes a pair of said thrust-producing propellers at the rear end of said fuselage on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said lift-producing propellers are ducted fans.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said lift-producing propellers are ducted fans.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said lift-producing propellers are unducted fans.

6. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said lift-producing propellers are unducted fans.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said fuselage carries a pair of said lift-producing propellers on each side of said transverse axis.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said fuselage further includes a vertical stabilizer at the rear end of said fuselage.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said fuselage further includes a horizontal stabilizer at the rear end of said fuselage.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said fuselage includes two engines, each of said engines for driving one of said lift-producing propellers and one of said pusher propellers, said two engines being mechanically coupled together in a common transmission.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said two engines are located in engine compartments in pylons formed in said fuselage on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said two engines are located in a common engine compartment aligned with said longitudinal axis and underlying said pilot'"'"'s compartment.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a flexible skirt extending below the fuselage enabling the vehicle to be used as a hovercraft for movement over ground or water.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of wheels attachable to the rear end of said fuselage for converting the vehicle to an all terrain vehicle (ATV).

16. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said fuselage carries a pair of said lift-producing propellers on each side of said transverse axis.

17. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said fuselage further includes a vertical stabilizer at the rear end of said fuselage.

18. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said fuselage further includes a horizontal stabilizer at the rear end of said fuselage.

19. The vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said fuselage includes two engines, each of said engines for driving one of said lift-producing propellers and one of said pusher propellers, said two engines being mechanically coupled together in a common transmission.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19 wherein said two engines are located in engine compartments in pylons formed in said fuselage on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis.

21. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said two engines are located in a common engine compartment aligned with said longitudinal axis and underlying said pilot'"'"'s compartment.

22. The vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle.

23. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle includes a flexible skirt extending below the fuselage enabling the vehicle to be used as a hovercraft for movement over ground or water.

24. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of wheels attachable to the rear end of said fuselage for converting the vehicle to an all terrain vehicle (ATV).