Modular unmanned air-vehicle

• US 7,922,115 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lance C. Holly, Richard D. Colgren, William R. Donovan
• Original Assignee: Lance C. Holly, Richard D. Colgren, William R. Donovan
• Inventors: Donovan, William R., Holly, Lance C., Colgren, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanderson; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US11/789,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 244/120, 244/45.R, 244/13, 244/34.R, 244/35.R, 244/123.1
• US Class Current: 244/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/02 Mounting or supporting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs

Abstract

The present invention is an unmanned air vehicle designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, data acquisition, and general research. The air vehicle is a monoplane that consists of several pieces that can easily be assembled using a minimal amount of tools. The air vehicle consists of a forward and aft fuselage section, two identical horizontal stabilizers, and four identical wing sections. The aircraft can fly with all four wing sections, or with just two wing sections (the short wing configuration). Each of the four wing sections of the air vehicle can be interchanged with any of the other wing sections for the purpose of minimizing assembly time and spare parts.

Claims

1. An unmanned aircraft comprising:

main wings comprising two or four identical wing sections,

wherein the wing sections are interchangeable from the left side of the aircraft to the right side and vice versa, and

wherein each wing section comprises a male connector on one spanwise distal end and a female connector on an opposing spanwise distal end, the connectors configured to connect to either a wing mount or adjacent wing section.

2. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 1, further comprising left and right primary ailerons on corresponding left and right wing sections of the two or four wing sections.

3. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft has four identical wing sections, and further comprising left and right primary ailerons on corresponding left and right inboard wing sections of the four wing sections, and left and right extended ailerons on corresponding left and right outboard wing sections of the four sections.

4. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft has four identical wing sections, the wing sections being interchangeable between inboard and outboard positions.

5. An unmanned aircraft comprising:

main wings comprising two or four identical wing sections, wherein the wing sections are interchangeable from the left side of the aircraft to the right side and vice versa; and

left and right wing mounts, one of said wing mounts having a male connector for connecting to one of said wing sections, and the other of said wing mounts having a female connector for connecting to another of said wing sections.

6. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 5, further comprising left and right primary ailerons on corresponding left and right wing sections of the two or four wing sections.

7. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 5, wherein the aircraft has four identical wing sections, and further comprising left and right primary ailerons on corresponding left and right inboard wing sections of the four wing sections, and left and right extended ailerons on corresponding left and right outboard wing sections of the four sections.

8. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 5, wherein the aircraft has four identical wing sections, the wing sections being interchangeable between inboard and outboard positions.

9. An unmanned air vehicle airframe having a modular design comprising:

a modular aft fuselage section having left and right horizontal tail wings, said wings movable as a control surface;

a modular forward fuselage section having a payload bay, landing gear, and an engine mounting assembly mounted thereto and removably attached to said aft fuselage;

a modular nose section mounted over said engine mounting assembly;

the engine mounting assembly capable of carrying a long engine mount, which can extend the engine well beyond the firewall;

a modular wing having two or four identical wing sections, wherein the wing sections are interchangeable from the left side of the aircraft to the right side and vice versa, and

wherein each wing section comprises a male connector on one spanwise distal end and a female connector on an opposing spanwise distal end, the connectors configured to connect to either a wing mount or adjacent wing section.

10. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 9, further comprising left and right primary ailerons on corresponding left and right wing sections of the two or four wing sections.

11. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 9, wherein the aircraft has four identical wing sections, and further comprising left and right primary ailerons on corresponding left and right inboard wing sections of the four wing sections, and left and right extended ailerons on corresponding left and right outboard wing sections of the four sections.

12. The unmanned aircraft according to claim 9, wherein the aircraft has four identical wing sections, the wing sections being interchangeable between inboard and outboard positions.