Twin rotor flying vehicle

• US 8,579,228 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ECA Robotics (Groupe Gorgé SA)
• Original Assignee: infoTRON Co.
• Inventors: Monleau, Jean-Marie, Vilbois, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Badawi, Medhat
• Application Number:
  US12/682,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20110024554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 244/17.23
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/10 arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/14 Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

A flying vehicle is provided that comprises first and second rotors respectively mounted in rotation about first and second rotation axes, the first rotor including a first group of blades extending in a first blade plane and the second rotor including a second group of blades extending in a second blade plane, each of the first and second rotors being rotated by a driving means of the machine. The driving means includes at least one engine arranged between said rotors and between said first and second blade planes.

Claims

1. A flying vehicle comprising:

a first rotor mounted so as to rotate about an axis of rotation;

first blades extending from the first rotor along a first blade plane;

a second rotor mounted so as to rotate about the axis of rotation;

second blades extending from the second rotor along a second blade plane;

driving means for driving the vehicle, the driving means including one motor positioned between the first and second rotors and between the first and second blade planes, the motor mechanically connected to the first and second rotors so as to drive the first and second rotors into rotation in respectively opposite directions;

a first crown disposed around the axis of rotation and adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation with the first blades while being mobile relative to the first blades, at least some of the first blades being mechanically connected to the first crown so that relative displacement of the first crown relative to the first blades causes a variation of incidence of the at least some of the first blades; and

a second crown disposed around the axis of rotation and adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation with the second blades while being mobile relative to the second blades, at least some of the second blades being mechanically connected to the second crown so that relative displacement of the second crown relative to the second blades causes a variation of incidence of the at least some of the second blades.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor has a size and a location such that it is comprised inside a cylinder-shaped space of maximum volume coaxial with the axis of rotation and with a radius of less than two thirds of a length of a blade of the first blades.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first and second blades borne by the first and second rotors are blades with variable pitches.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connection between the first crown and the at least some of the first blades includes at least one first rotor connecting rod and the mechanical connection between the second crown and the at least some of the second blades includes at least one second rotor connecting rod.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the first and second crowns are positioned between the first and second blade planes.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rotors are hollow and the vehicle includes a mast extending through the hollows of the first and second rotors.

7. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a case encompassing the driving means, the case being comprised inside the cylinder-shaped space of maximum volume.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising servomotors disposed between the first and second blade planes and adapted to alter respective positions of the first and second crowns with regard to the first and second blades.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical means connecting the first crown and the second crown and adapted to maintain the first crown and the second crown substantially parallel with each other.

10. A flying vehicle comprising:

a first rotor mounted so as to rotate about an axis of rotation;

first blades extending from the first rotor along a first blade plane;

a second rotor mounted so as to rotate about the axis of rotation;

second blades extending from the second rotor along a second blade plane;

driving means for driving the vehicle, the driving means including first and second motors positioned between the first and second rotors and between the first and second blade planes, the first motor being connected to the first rotor so as to drive it into rotation about the axis of rotation and the second motor being connected to the second rotor so as to drive it into rotation about the axis of rotation;

a first crown disposed around the axis of rotation and adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation with the first blades while being mobile relative to the first blades, at least some of the first blades being mechanically connected to the first crown so that movement of the first crown relative to the first blades causes a variation of incidence of the at least some of the first blades; and

a second crown disposed around the axis of rotation and adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation with the second blades while being mobile relative to the second blades, at least some of the second blades being mechanically connected to the second crown so that movement of the second crown relative to the second blades causes a variation of incidence of the at least some of the second blades.

11. The flying vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the first and second motors have a size and a location such that it is comprised inside a cylinder-shaped space of maximum volume coaxial with the axis of rotation and with a radius of less than two thirds of a length of a blade of the first blades.

12. The flying vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first and second blades borne by the first and second rotors are blades of variable pitches.

13. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the mechanical connection between the first crown and the at least some of the first blades includes at least one first rotor connecting rod and the mechanical connection between the second crown and the at least some of the second blades includes at least one second rotor connecting rod.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the first and second crowns are positioned between the first and second blade planes.

15. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a mechanical means connecting the first crown and the second crowns to each other and adapted to maintain the first and second crowns substantially parallel with each other.

16. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the first and second rotors are hollow and the vehicle includes a mast extending through the hollows of the first and second rotors.

17. The vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a case encompassing the driving means, the case being comprised inside the cylinder-shaped space of maximum volume.

18. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising servomotors disposed between the first and second blade planes and adapted to alter respective positions of the first and second crowns with regard to the first and second blades.