Ultralight helicopter and control system
First Claim
1. A helicopter comprising:
- a frame;
an engine mounted on said frame;
at least one rotor assembly mounted on said frame and coupled to said engine for rotation, said at least one rotor assembly having a plurality of rotors;
a rotor pitch control mechanism to adjust the pitch of said plurality of rotors;
a throttle control mechanism to adjust the rotational speed of said at least one rotor assembly; and
a pilot containing carrier assemblage connected to said frame, said carrier assemblage being moveable relative to said frame by said pilot during flight in order to provide for pitch and roll adjustments of the helicopter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultralight helicopter has a pair of counter-rotating rotor assemblies which in combination yield zero net angular momentum when rotating at equal speeds. A single motor drives both rotors through a counter-rotating bevel gear set coupled to a pair of concentrically nested output shafts. In an alternative embodiment, the motor is coupled to the rotors through a hydraulic drive system which includes a hydraulic pump and at least one hydraulic motor driving each of the rotor assemblies. The pilot is advantageously suspended in a "hang-glider" type harness from a single hang point positioned proximate the center of lift of the helicopter. A control bar is fixedly mounted to the frame and is grasped by the pilot suspended in the harness. The pilot maneuvers the helicopter in both the pitch and roll directions by manipulating the control bar. The pilot shifts his own center of gravity relative to the center of gravity of the helicopter while grasping the control bar to thereby maneuver the helicopter.
90 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A helicopter comprising:
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a frame; an engine mounted on said frame; at least one rotor assembly mounted on said frame and coupled to said engine for rotation, said at least one rotor assembly having a plurality of rotors; a rotor pitch control mechanism to adjust the pitch of said plurality of rotors; a throttle control mechanism to adjust the rotational speed of said at least one rotor assembly; and a pilot containing carrier assemblage connected to said frame, said carrier assemblage being moveable relative to said frame by said pilot during flight in order to provide for pitch and roll adjustments of the helicopter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A helicopter comprising:
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a frame; an engine mounted on said frame; a pair of counter-rotating coaxial rotor assemblies mounted on said frame and coupled to said engine for rotation, the combined rotation of said pair of rotor assemblies resulting in approximately zero net angular momentum delivered to said frame, said rotor assemblies each having a plurality of variable pitch rotors; a rotor pitch control mechanism to adjust the collective pitch of said plurality of variable pitch rotors, said variable pitch rotors being adjustable via a variable pitch actuator; a throttle control mechanism to adjust the rotational speed of said rotor assemblies, said throttle control mechanism being adjustable via a throttle control actuator; a harness in which a pilot is suspended from a hang point positioned proximate the axis of rotation of said rotor assemblies, said harness being moveable relative to said frame by said pilot during flight; a control bar fixed to said frame, said control bar being manipulated by said pilot to shift the center of gravity of said pilot in said harness relative to the center of gravity of the helicopter to control the pitch and roll of the helicopter, said throttle control actuator and said variable pitch actuator being located on said control bar; and a tail assembly connected to said frame, said tail assembly including vertical and horizontal stabilizers to provide added stability to the helicopter during forwardly directed flight. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification