Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air vehicle

• US 9,834,305 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Taylor, Dana J., Tokumaru, Phillip T., Hibbs, Bart Dean, Parks, William Martin, Ganzer, David Wayne, King, Joseph Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/706,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20160214712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/32 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/26 characterised by provision of fixed wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/54 Mechanisms for controlling blade adjustment or movement relative to rotor head, e.g. lag-lead movement
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/605 including swash plate, spider or cam mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/00 Aircraft capable of landing or taking-off vertically, e.g. vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft rotorcraft B64C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/70 Constructional aspects of the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0858 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft

Abstract

A flight control apparatus for fixed-wing aircraft includes a first port wing and first starboard wing, a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing, and a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing.

Claims

1. A flight control apparatus for a fixed-wing aircraft, comprising:

a first port wing and a first starboard wing;

a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and a first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing;

a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and a first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing;

a second port wing and second starboard wing;

a second port swash plate coupled between a second port rotor and second port electric motor, the second port electric motor coupled to the second port wing;

a second starboard swash plate coupled between a second starboard rotor and second starboard electric motor, the second starboard electric motor coupled to the second starboard wing; and

a horizontal stabilizer coupled to a fuselage and an elevator rotatably coupled to the horizontal stabilizer, the fuselage coupled between the first port wing and second starboard wing;

wherein first starboard and first port rotor pitch, yaw and roll moments are accomplished without the benefit of control surfaces on a wing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a port aileron rotatably disposed on a trailing edge of the first port wing; and

a starboard aileron rotatably disposed on a trailing edge of the first starboard wing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second landing gear attached to the first port wing and first starboard wing, respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a third landing gear attached to the horizontal stabilizer.