Vertical Takeoff Winged Multicopter

• US 20150329204A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Dale Nelson
• Original Assignee: Brian Dale Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Brian Dale
• Granted Patent: US 9,272,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/26 characterised by provision of fixed wings
• 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 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/50 Glider-type UAVs, e.g. with parachute, parasail or kite for landing B64U70/83
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/83 Electronic components structurally integrated with aircraft elements, e.g. circuit boards carrying loads
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/297 Tilting rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a plurality of propeller drives rigidly mounted to a foldable frame with the motor rotors aligned in a vertical direction to provide a means of vertical takeoffs and landings. The foldable frame mounts a sheet sail at an angle with the horizontal that provides lift during the forward motion and tilt of the UAV. In one embodiment the shape of the sheet sail and frame are triangular with one or two propeller drives being mounted in close proximity to each of the three vertices. In another embodiment, the shape of the sheet sail and frame are triangular with one or two propeller drives being mounted in close proximity to each of the three vertices, and one or two propeller drives being mount in close proximity to the trailing edge of the spine, in between the trailing edge propeller drives. In some embodiments, the frame spars may be comprised of carbon fiber rods and the sheet sail may be comprised of ripstop nylon fabric.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle assembly, comprising:

a plurality of propeller drives comprising a propeller attached to an electric motor,

a rigid frame wherein said plurality of propeller drives are mounted,

said electric motors wherein each of the rotor axes are in a vertical orientation providing a means of vertical ascent,

said rigid frame wherein a sheet sail is mounted,

said sheet sail is angled from horizontal providing a means of lift during the forward motion and resulting tilted position of said unmanned aerial vehicle.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the said frame and said sheet sail can be folded into a more compact shape by rotating the leading edge spars together after the detachment of one or more spreader spars.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the said frame has a triangular shape wherein one or two said propeller drives are mounted in close proximity to the leading edge vertex, and one or two said propeller drives are mounted in close proximity to each of the two trailing edge vertices.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the said frame has a triangular shape wherein one or two said propeller drives are mounted in close proximity to the leading edge vertex and one or two said propeller drives are mounted in close proximity to each of the two trailing edge vertices and one or two said propeller drives are mounted in between the two said trailing edge propeller drives.