VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING (VTOL) AERIAL VEHICLE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH A VTOL AERIAL VEHICLE
First Claim
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1. A vertical take-off and landing aerial vehicle comprising:
- a. a power plant assembly unit with at least one main rotor,b. a torus-type fuselage in a plane defined by a longitudinal and a transversal axis, said torus-type fuselage having radial inside a duct with a central axis perpendicular to said plane, said duct being between a top and a bottom of said torus-type fuselage and said at least one main rotor having a rotation axis essentially coaxial with the central axis of said duct, said fuselage having a front and rear portion along said longitudinal axis,c. a pair of lateral wings attached opposed to each other outside the fuselage, andd. an integrated drive system comprising;
d1. a plurality of support struts between the power plant assembly unit and the fuselage,d2. at least one engine in the power plant assembly unit for driving said at least one main rotor, andd3. a mechanical interconnection system between said at least one engine and said at least one main rotor, whereind4. at least two propulsion means are provided with respective rotation axis essentially directed parallel to said longitudinal axis, at least one of said propulsion means, including propellers or turbojets, being fitted to each of said wings and the mechanical interconnection system being connected to the propulsion means for driving said propulsion means.
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Abstract
A Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aerial vehicle (1, 46), e.g. a rotorcraft with long range and high cruising speed capability. The aerial vehicle (1, 46) has a torus-type fuselage (2) with radial inside a duct (5) and at least one main rotor (13, 26). A pair of lateral wings (40) are attached opposed to each other outside the fuselage (2) and at least one engine (18) drives said at least one main rotor (13, 26) and at least two propulsion means (24) fitted to each of said wings (40). The invention relates as well to a method of operating such a VTOL aerial vehicle (1, 46).
26 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vertical take-off and landing aerial vehicle comprising:
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a. a power plant assembly unit with at least one main rotor, b. a torus-type fuselage in a plane defined by a longitudinal and a transversal axis, said torus-type fuselage having radial inside a duct with a central axis perpendicular to said plane, said duct being between a top and a bottom of said torus-type fuselage and said at least one main rotor having a rotation axis essentially coaxial with the central axis of said duct, said fuselage having a front and rear portion along said longitudinal axis, c. a pair of lateral wings attached opposed to each other outside the fuselage, and d. an integrated drive system comprising; d1. a plurality of support struts between the power plant assembly unit and the fuselage, d2. at least one engine in the power plant assembly unit for driving said at least one main rotor, and d3. a mechanical interconnection system between said at least one engine and said at least one main rotor, wherein d4. at least two propulsion means are provided with respective rotation axis essentially directed parallel to said longitudinal axis, at least one of said propulsion means, including propellers or turbojets, being fitted to each of said wings and the mechanical interconnection system being connected to the propulsion means for driving said propulsion means. - 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, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification