Rotarycraft power and propulsion system

• US 8,083,173 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Arlton, Paul E. Arlton
• Original Assignee: David J. Arlton, Paul E. Arlton
• Inventors: Arlton, Paul E., Arlton, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/016,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20080245924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 244/17.23, 244/17.25, 244/17.11, 244/17.19, 244/67, 244/69, 244/23.C, 416/124, 416/125, 416/127, 89/18.08, 446/36, 446/37
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/21 Rotary wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/24 Coaxial rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/30 Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.

Claims

1. A rotary-wing vehicle comprising

an airframe establishing a longitudinal axis,

a first set of rotor blades coupled to the airframe and configured to rotate in a first direction about the longitudinal axis, and

a second set of rotor blades coupled to the airframe to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first set of rotor blades to define a space therebetween and configured to rotate in a second, opposite direction about the longitudinal axis, and wherein a center of gravity of the airframe is located in the space provided between the first and second sets of rotor blades

a first power source module configured to provide power of the first set of rotor blades and wherein the first power source module is coupled to the airframe and the first set of rotor blades is located between the center of gravity and the first power source module,

a second power source module configured to provide power to the second set of rotor blades and wherein the second power source module is coupled to the airframe and the second set of rotor blades is located between the center of gravity and the second power source module.

2. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a first pitch controller configured to vary a pitch of the first set of rotor blades, wherein the first pitch controller is coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie in the space between the first and second sets of rotor blades.

3. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a second pitch controller configured to vary a pitch of the second set of rotor blades, wherein the second pitch controller coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie in the space between the first and second sets of rotor blades.

4. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 3, wherein the second pitch controller is located in the space between the second set of rotor blades and the center of gravity.

5. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 3, wherein the center of gravity is located between the first and second pitch controllers.

6. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first pitch controller is located in the space between the first set of rotor blades and the center of gravity.

7. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a first payload module configured to provide at least one of means for delivering goods and means for gathering data during a flight of the vehicle, and wherein the first payload module is coupled to the airframe and the first set of rotor blades is located between the center of gravity and the first payload module.

8. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a second payload module configured to provide at least one of means for delivering goods and means for gathering data during a flight of the vehicle and wherein the second payload is coupled to the airframe and the second set of rotor blades is located between the center of gravity and the second payload module.

9. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a first electronics module configured to provide at least one of means for guidance and means for communications during a flight of the vehicle, and wherein the first electronics module is coupled to the airframe and the first set of rotor blades is located between the center of gravity and the first electronics module.

10. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a second electronics module configured to provide at least one of means for guidance and means for communications during a flight of the vehicle, and wherein the second electronics module is coupled to the airframe and the second set of rotor blades is located between the center of gravity and the second electronics module.

11. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first power source module is configured to provide means for providing power to rotate the first set of rotor blades about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first power source module is coupled to the airframe and the first set of rotor blades is arranged to lie on the airframe between the first power source module and the center of gravity.

12. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a first payload module configured to provide at least one of means for delivering goods and means for gathering data during a flight of the vehicle, and wherein the first payload module is coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie between the first power source module and the first set of rotor blades.

13. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a first electronics module configured to provide at least one of means for guidance and means for communications during a flight of the vehicle, and wherein the first electronics module is coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie between the first power source module and the first set of rotor blades.

14. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a first pitch controller to control the pitch of the rotor blades, and wherein the first pitch controller is coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie in the space between the first and second sets of rotor blades and also between the first set of rotor blades and the center of gravity.

15. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising first and second payload modules to provide at least one of means for delivering of goods and means for gathering of data during a flight of the vehicle, first and second electronics modules to provide at least one of means for guidance and means for communications during a flight of the vehicle, and first and second pitch controllers to provide pitch control for the first and second sets of rotor blades, respectively, all modules being coupled to the airframe, and wherein the first payload module, the first electronics module, and the first pitch controller are arranged to lie between the first power source module and the center of gravity, and the second power source module, the second electronics module and the second pitch controller are arranged to lie between the second payload module and the center of gravity.

16. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising first and second pitch controllers to provide pitch control for the first and second sets of rotor blades, respectively, wherein the first and second pitch controllers are coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie in the space between the first and second sets of rotor blades.

17. The rotary-wing vehicle of claim 1, further comprising first and second pitch controllers to control the pitch of the first and second sets of rotor blades, respectively, and wherein the first pitch controller is coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie between the first set of rotor blades and the center of gravity, and further wherein the second pitch controller is coupled to the airframe and arranged to lie between the second set of rotor blades and the center of gravity.