Stopped rotor aircraft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aircraft, comprising:
- a stoppable rotor which includes a first blade and a second blade, wherein;
the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; and
the stoppable rotor is configured to stop with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward while the aircraft is mid-flight; and
a set of one or more combination rotors, wherein;
the set of combination rotors is configured to rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis;
in a first mode of operation, the set of combination rotors are configured to provide anti-torque in order to counter torque produced by the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor is rotating; and
in a second mode of operation, the set of combination rotors are configured to provide forward thrust when the stoppable rotor is not rotating, wherein at least one combination rotor in the set of combination rotors rotates in a first direction during the first mode of operation and rotates in a second direction during the second mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stoppable rotor, which includes a first and second blade and rotates about a substantially vertical axis, is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward while the aircraft is mid-flight. Anti-torque is provided using a set of one or more combination rotors in a first mode of operation in order to counter torque produced by the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor is rotating where the set of combination rotors rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis. Forward thrust is provided using the set of combination rotors in a second mode of operation when the stoppable rotor is not rotating.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An aircraft, comprising:
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a stoppable rotor which includes a first blade and a second blade, wherein; the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; and the stoppable rotor is configured to stop with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward while the aircraft is mid-flight; and a set of one or more combination rotors, wherein; the set of combination rotors is configured to rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis; in a first mode of operation, the set of combination rotors are configured to provide anti-torque in order to counter torque produced by the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor is rotating; and in a second mode of operation, the set of combination rotors are configured to provide forward thrust when the stoppable rotor is not rotating, wherein at least one combination rotor in the set of combination rotors rotates in a first direction during the first mode of operation and rotates in a second direction during the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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stopping a stoppable rotor which includes a first blade and a second blade, wherein; the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; and the stoppable rotor is configured to stop with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward while an aircraft, which includes the stoppable rotor, is mid-flight; providing anti-torque using a set of one or more combination rotors in a first mode of operation in order to counter torque produced by the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor is rotating, wherein the set of combination rotors is configured to rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis; and providing forward thrust using the set of combination rotors in a second mode of operation when the stoppable rotor is not rotating, wherein; the aircraft further includes the set of combination rotors; and at least one combination rotor in the set of combination rotors rotates in a first direction during the first mode of operation and rotates in a second direction during the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
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stopping a stoppable rotor which includes a first blade and a second blade, wherein; the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; and the stoppable rotor is configured to stop with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward while an aircraft, which includes the stoppable rotor, is mid-flight; providing anti-torque using a set of one or more combination rotors in a first mode of operation in order to counter torque produced by the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor is rotating, wherein the set of combination rotors is configured to rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis; and providing forward thrust using the set of combination rotors in a second mode of operation when the stoppable rotor is not rotating, wherein; the aircraft further includes the set of combination rotors; and at least one combination rotor in the set of combination rotors rotates in a first direction during the first mode of operation and rotates in a second direction during the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification