High performance ‘X’-configuration airplane for storage and launch from a tubular container
First Claim
1. An air vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage;
two aerodynamic surfaces, each aerodynamic surface having a first free end and a second free end and a central common pivot axis between the first and second free ends;
wherein both aerodynamic surfaces are rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage along the common pivot axis with at least one pivot mechanism, wherein in a stowed configuration, both aerodynamic surfaces are parallel to the fuselage for stowage of the aircraft in a container;
means for pushing the aerodynamic surfaces into a final deployed X-shaped configuration in which the aerodynamic surfaces extend laterally from the fuselage in a swept forward position with each aerodynamic surface having the first free end positioned forward of the pivot axis and the second free end positioned aft of the pivot axis,wherein the aircraft has no vertical stabilizer or rudder system on the fuselage,wherein each of the aerodynamic surfaces includes a winglet, and wherein the winglets are canted in opposite directions, such that the winglets do not contact each other in the stowed configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air vehicle can be folded into or unfolded from a compact tubular storage container without assembly or disassembly of the air vehicle. The air vehicle includes a fuselage, two aerodynamic surfaces rotatably mounted on the fuselage along a common axis with at least one pivot mechanism, and at least one spring mechanism configured to deploy the aerodynamic surfaces so they extend outwardly from the body. In a stowed configuration, both aerodynamic surfaces are parallel to the fuselage for stowage of the aircraft in a container. Each aerodynamic surface has a winglet located at an outer edge of the tail portion of the aerodynamic surface, and a rudder on each winglet. The aircraft does not require a vertical stabilizer or rudder system on the fuselage. An outer backward-swept wing portion can be unfolded from the outer edge of each aerodynamic surface to increase the wing aspect ratio.
36 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An air vehicle comprising:
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a fuselage; two aerodynamic surfaces, each aerodynamic surface having a first free end and a second free end and a central common pivot axis between the first and second free ends; wherein both aerodynamic surfaces are rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage along the common pivot axis with at least one pivot mechanism, wherein in a stowed configuration, both aerodynamic surfaces are parallel to the fuselage for stowage of the aircraft in a container; means for pushing the aerodynamic surfaces into a final deployed X-shaped configuration in which the aerodynamic surfaces extend laterally from the fuselage in a swept forward position with each aerodynamic surface having the first free end positioned forward of the pivot axis and the second free end positioned aft of the pivot axis, wherein the aircraft has no vertical stabilizer or rudder system on the fuselage, wherein each of the aerodynamic surfaces includes a winglet, and wherein the winglets are canted in opposite directions, such that the winglets do not contact each other in the stowed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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2. An air vehicle comprising:
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a fuselage; two aerodynamic surfaces; wherein both aerodynamic surfaces are rotatably mounted on the fuselage along a common axis with at least one pivot mechanism, wherein in a stowed configuration, both aerodynamic surfaces are parallel to the fuselage for stowage of the aircraft in a container; means for pushing the aerodynamic surfaces into a deployed configuration in which the aerodynamic surfaces extend laterally from the body, wherein the means for pushing the aerodynamic surfaces includes a torsion spring, wherein each of the aerodynamic surfaces includes a winglet, and wherein the winglets are canted in opposite directions, such that the winglets do not contact each other in the stowed configuration.
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Specification