Ground Air Water Craft

• US 20080251308A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molnari, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Molnari, Inc.
• Inventors: Molnar, Dezso, Garamszegi, Zoltan, Calfee, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/209
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/00 Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle cycle supports or stands equipped with additional wheels for ride stabilisation B62H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/02 Gyroplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 35/001 with means for increasing stability on the water
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 35/008 Amphibious sea planes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft

Abstract

A vehicle that is convertible in its operation between flying as an autogiro and driving as a motorcycle, in which the propeller rotates around a section of the fuselage. The propeller span can be as large as the space between the autogiro lifting rotor blade and the ground. The landing gear can be selectively extended and the rotor blade raised to allow use of a larger propeller

Claims

1. A vehicle that can operate as either a motorcycle or an autogiro, said vehicle having a flight mode and a motorcycle mode, said vehicle comprising:

a frame having a front part and a rear part;

at least one aircraft propulsion means, comprising;

at least one propeller that rotates around a propeller barrel when said vehicle is in said flight mode, said propeller barrel being the sole means of fixedly connecting the front part of said frame to the rear part of said frame;

an engine mounted to the rear part of said frame, wherein said engine powers said propeller in said flight mode;

a cockpit fixedly mounted to the front part of said frame, said cockpit comprising

means for controlling said vehicle;

at least one aircraft lift means comprising;

at least one rotor rotatably mounted to said frame when said vehicle is in said flight mode; and

at least one front wheel steerably and rotatably mounted to the front part of said

frame along the centerline of said vehicle.

at least one rear wheel that is powered by said engine in said motorcycle mode and is rotatably mounted to the rear part of said frame along the centerline

of said vehicle.

2. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said vehicle has side wheels retractably and rotatably mounted to said frame and said side wheels act as landing gear in said flight mode and prevent said vehicle from tipping over at low speeds in said motorcycle mode.

3. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said cockpit is enclosed in a monocoque shell that is attached to or incorporates the front part of said frame and said engine is enclosed in a monocoque shell that is attached to or incorporates the rear part of said frame.

4. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said vehicle is also a water craft having a water mode and a means of aquatic propulsion and one or more flotation means attached to said frame.

5. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said rotor comprises removable rotor blades that are stowable along the sides of said vehicle when said vehicle is not in said flight mode.

6. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said rotor comprises foldable rotor blades that are folded when said vehicle is not in said flight mode.

7. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said rotor comprises extendable rotor blades that are retracted when said vehicle is not in said flight mode.

8. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said propeller comprises foldable propeller blades that are folded when said vehicle is not in said flight mode.

9. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said engine powers said rotor to provide for shortened or vertical takeoff.

10. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein an external power source connects to an external coupling mounted to said rotor and powers said rotor to provide for shortened or vertical takeoff.

11. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein at least one rudder and at least one horizontal stabilizer are affixed to the rear part of said frame.

12. The vehicle as in claim 1;

wherein said engine is adjustably mounted to the rear part of said frame so that said engine can be raised and lowered vertically relative to the rear part of said frame, thereby switching the supply of mechanical power back and forth from said propeller to said rear wheel by slackening and loosing one or more drive belts or meshing and unmeshing gears.