Manned/unmanned V.T.O.L. flight vehicle

• US 20070246601A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Layton, Otis
• Application Number:
  US11/245,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/12.200
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/10 All-wing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/15 using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/18 Thrust vectoring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction

Abstract

A manned/unmanned, autotonomously or remotely directed, horizontal, or vertical take-off and landing (HOVTOL) aircraft. This air vehicle incorporates multiple vertical facing ducted fans (shrouded propellers) driven by at least one power plant. Control authority of said air vehicle when in vertical flight mode is maintained through varying and vectoring the thrust produced by said ducted fans. When in a conventional horizontal flight mode, the aircraft would rely on aerodynamic control surfaces. In one embodiment this air vehicle would have the ability to transition from vertical helicopter type flight to a conventional horizontal aircraft mode of flight and back again. In another embodiment, this aircraft would perform similar to a helicopter—using only its ducted fans to produce vertical lift and maneuver in three dimensions.

Claims

1. A computer assisted, Vertical Take-off and landing flight vehicle, comprising of a rigid, light weight structure wherein multiple horizontal facing, ducted multi-bladed rotary fans (or shrouded propellers) are positioned about the said structure, so as to place at least 2 of the said ducted-fans aft of the center of gravity and each on opposite sides relative to said structure'"'"'s forward and aft running centerline, and at least 1 said ducted-fan positioned forward of said structures center of gravity.

2. A flight vehicle according to claim 1, that includes 2 said ducted-fans positioned aft of the said air vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity and 1 said ducted-fan positioned forward of said air vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity.

3. A flight vehicle according to claim 2, where said vehicle'"'"'s 3 axis, roll-pitch and yaw movements, vertical and horizontal flight, vertical take-offs and landings are accomplished by coordinated differential ducted-fan thrust and diverted thrust augmentations.

4. A flight vehicle according to claim 3, that includes a method of selectively varying and or vectoring the thrust created by each said ducted-fan.

5. A flight vehicle according to claim 4 that includes a method for diverting the thrust of at least one of the said ducted-fans.

6. A flight vehicle according to claim 5, that includes an on board flight and navigation computer system that can operate said vehicle'"'"'s flight, navigation and autonomous functions.

7. A flight vehicle according to claim 6, that includes at least one power-plant, transmission and drive train, supported by said air vehicle'"'"'s structure, to generate and transfer adequate power and torque to develop the thrust and lift required to lift and maneuver the said air vehicle through its entire flight envelope.

8. A flight vehicle according to claim 7, that includes at least 1 power-plant that is dedicated to forward propulsion when in a conventional, horizontal flight mode and or a transitional flight mode

9. A flight vehicle according to claim 7, that can transition from direct ducted-fan lift supported flight, to a conventional type, horizontal flight mode.

10. A flight vehicle according to claim 9, that includes aerodynamic lifting planes, also known as wings, that are positioned about said structure as to create sufficient lift to sustain flight while in a conventional type, horizontal flight mode and permit conventional take-offs and landings.

11. A flight vehicle according to claim 10, that utilizes horizontal and vertical aerodynamic stabilizing surface planes to maintain stability while in a conventional type, horizontal flight mode.

12. A flight vehicle according to claim 11, that utilizes moveable aerodynamic control surfaces to control and maneuver in 3 axis while in a conventional type, horizontal flight mode.

13. A flight vehicle according to claim 12, that includes a method for covering the said ducted-fan'"'"'s inlet and outlet openings to reduce aerodynamic drag while in a conventional type, horizontal flight mode

14. A flight vehicle according to claim 13, that can transport, deploy and utilize a payload in any combination of human cargo, hardware, supplies, instruments and weapons in and about said air vehicle'"'"'s structure.

15. A flight vehicle according to claim 14 that can be operated remotely.

16. A flight vehicle according to claim 14 that can be operated autonomously.

17. A flight vehicle according to claim 14, that can be directly piloted

18. A flight vehicle according to claims 14, that can be operated either remotely, autonomously or can be directly piloted and any combination thereof.

19. A flight vehicle according to claim 15 that is an unmanned air vehicle.

20. A flight vehicle according to claim 16 that is an unmanned air vehicle.

21. A flight vehicle according to claim 17 that is an unmanned air vehicle.

22. A flight vehicle according to claim 18 that is an unmanned air vehicle.

23. A flight vehicle according to claim 13 that is an unmanned air vehicle.

24. A flight vehicle according to claim 22, that utilizes only said vehicle'"'"'s ducted-fans for lift throughout said vehicle'"'"'s entire flight envelope.

25. A flight vehicle according to claim 7, that utilizes only said vehicle'"'"'s ducted-fans for lift throughout said vehicle'"'"'s entire flight envelope.

26. A flight vehicle according to claim 25 that'"'"'s purpose would be for amusement and recreation

27. A flight vehicle according to claim 24 that'"'"'s purpose would be for amusement and recreation

28. A flight vehicle according to claim 18 that'"'"'s purpose would be for human transportation

29. A flight vehicle according to claim 24 that'"'"'s purpose would be for human transportation