TWIN ROTOR FLYING VEHICLE

• US 20110024554A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ECA Robotics (Groupe Gorgé SA)
• Original Assignee: infoTRON Co.
• Inventors: Monleau, Jean-Marie, Vilbois, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/10 arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/14 Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

A flying vehicle is provided that comprises first and second rotors respectively mounted in rotation about first and second rotation axes, the first rotor including a first group of blades extending in a first blade plane and the second rotor including a second group of blades extending in a second blade plane, each of the first and second rotors being rotated by a driving means of the machine. The driving means includes at least one engine arranged between said rotors and between said first and second blade planes.

Claims

1. A flying vehicle comprising:

first and second rotors respectively mounted so as to rotate about first and second axes of rotation, the first rotor including a first group of blades extending along a first blade plane and the second rotor including a second group of blades extending along a second blade plane, the first and second rotors each being driven into rotation by means for driving the vehicle, wherein said driving means include at least one motor positioned between said rotors and between said first and second blade planes.

2. The flying vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one motor has a size and a location such that it is comprised inside a cylinder-shaped space of maximum volume coaxial with said first axis of rotation and with a radius of less than two thirds of the length of a blade of said first rotor.

3. The flying vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the blades borne by the rotors are blades with variable pitches.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said first rotor includes a first crown which extends around said first axis of rotation and which is connected in rotation about the first axis of rotation relatively to said first group of blades while being mobile relatively to the first group of blades, at least some of the blades of the first group of blades being mechanically connected to said first crown so that the relative displacement of this first crown relatively to the first group of blades causes a variation of incidence of the blades mechanically connected to said first crown relatively to said first axis of rotation.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said second rotor includes a second crown which extends around said second axis of rotation and which is connected in rotation about the second axis of rotation relatively to said second group of blades while being mobile relatively to the second group of blades, at least some of the blades of the second group of blades being mechanically connected to said second crown so that the relative displacement of this second crown relatively to the second group of blades causes a variation of incidence of the blades mechanically connected to said second crown relatively to said second axis of rotation.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connection between the first crown and the first group of blades includes at least one first rotor connecting rod and in that the mechanical connection between the second crown and the second group of blades includes at least one second rotor connecting rod.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said first and second crowns are positioned between said first and second blade planes.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said motor positioned between said first and second blade planes is mechanically connected to said first and second rotors so as to drive them into rotation in respectively opposite directions.

9. The vehicle according to claim 7, comprising:

first and second motors positioned between said first and second rotors, the first motor being connected to the first rotor so as to drive it into rotation about the first axis of rotation and the second motor being connected to the second rotor so as to drive it into rotation about the second axis of rotation.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said first and second crowns are connected to each other with a mechanical means for connecting the crowns adapted for maintaining them parallel with each other.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said first and second rotors are hollow and in that the vehicle includes a mast extending through the hollows of the first and second rotors.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, comprising:

a case encompassing said motor means for driving the vehicle, this case being comprised inside said cylinder-shaped space of maximum volume.