Dual-flight mode tandem rotor wing
First Claim
1. A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft comprising:
- an aircraft fuselage;
a plurality of hubs mechanically coupled to said fuselage and rotated by at least one engine;
a plurality of tandem rotor/wings mechanically coupled to said plurality of hubs and propelling and lifting said aircraft fuselage;
at least one transitional lift wing mechanically coupled to said fuselage and enabling lift of said aircraft fuselage during off-loading lift of said plurality of tandem rotor/wings; and
a main controller coupled to said plurality of tandem rotor/wings and switching said plurality of tandem rotor/wings between a vertical lift mode and a fixed wing mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (10) is provided including an aircraft fuselage (12). A plurality of hubs (20) are mechanically coupled to the fuselage (12) and are rotated by at least one engine (22). A plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14) are mechanically coupled to the plurality of hubs (20) and propel and lift the aircraft fuselage (12). A transitional lift wing (16) is mechanically coupled to the fuselage (12) and enables lift on the fuselage (12) during off-loading lift of the plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14). A main controller (24) is coupled to the plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14) and switches the plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14) between a vertical lift mode and a fixed wing mode. A method of performing the same is also provided.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft comprising:
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an aircraft fuselage;
a plurality of hubs mechanically coupled to said fuselage and rotated by at least one engine;
a plurality of tandem rotor/wings mechanically coupled to said plurality of hubs and propelling and lifting said aircraft fuselage;
at least one transitional lift wing mechanically coupled to said fuselage and enabling lift of said aircraft fuselage during off-loading lift of said plurality of tandem rotor/wings; and
a main controller coupled to said plurality of tandem rotor/wings and switching said plurality of tandem rotor/wings between a vertical lift mode and a fixed wing mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of propelling and lifting an aircraft comprising:
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(A) operating in a vertical lift mode to generate vertical lift on an aircraft fuselage comprising;
rotating a plurality of tandem rotor/wings; and
(B) switching between a vertical lift mode and a fixed wing mode comprising;
off-loading lift of said plurality of tandem rotor/wings;
enabling lift of said aircraft fuselage during said off-loading; and
laterally fixing said plurality of tandem rotor/wings.
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24. A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft comprising:
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an aircraft fuselage;
a plurality of hubs mechanically coupled to said fuselage and rotated by at least one engine;
a plurality of tandem rotor/wings mechanically coupled to said plurality of hubs and propelling and lifting said aircraft fuselage, said plurality of tandem rotor/wings rotate during a vertical lift mode and are fixed during a fixed wing mode;
at least one transitional lift wing mechanically coupled to said fuselage and between said plurality of tandem rotor/wings and enabling lift of said aircraft fuselage during off-loading lift of said plurality of tandem rotor/wings; and
a main controller coupled to said plurality of tandem rotor/wings and switching said plurality of tandem rotor/wings between said vertical lift mode and said fixed wing mode.
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Specification