Dual-mode vehicle with wheel rotors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10675932-B2
Application number	US-201715453566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A dual-mode vehicle, wheels for the vehicle, and a method of transitioning the vehicle from a land mode to a flight mode. In the land mode, the method includes rotating a pair of spaced wheel arms about a central pivot to lower a body of the dual-mode vehicle to a ground surface. Each wheel arm extends from the central pivot to a wheel. The method also includes rotating the central pivot about a longitudinal vehicle axis to raise the wheel arms and the wheels above the ground surface. After raising the wheel arms and wheels above the ground surface, the method includes rotating the wheel arms about the central pivot to position the wheels for use as rotors in the flight mode. In the flight mode, the method includes rotating the wheels in order to extract rotor blades positioned within the wheels to extend beyond the wheels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-mode vehicle, comprising:
a central pivot configured to rotate about a longitudinal vehicle axis;
a pair of spaced wheel arms configured to rotate about the central pivot; and
a pair of wheels;
each wheel being disposed on one of the wheel arms; and
each wheel including:
a rim defining a recess within an interior of the wheel; and
a rotor blade positioned within the recess in a land mode of the dual-mode vehicle and positioned exterior to the rim in a flight mode of the dual-mode vehicle.

2. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 1 , wherein rotating the wheel arms about the central pivot modifies a ride height of the dual-mode vehicle in the land mode.

3. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each wheel further includes a wheel cover positioned adjacent to the rim and covering the rotor blade in the land mode.

4. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the wheel cover is spaced from the rim in the flight mode allowing the rotor blade to transition from its position within the recess in the land mode to its position exterior to the rim in the flight mode.

5. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each wheel further includes a stanchion disposed within the recess.

6. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the rotor blade is rotatable about the stanchion between its position within the recess in the land mode and its position exterior to the rim in the flight mode.

7. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 6 , wherein rotational inertia of the rim causes the rotor blade to rotate about the stanchion between its position within the recess in the land mode and its position exterior to the rim in the flight mode.

8. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of stabilizers for positioning the dual-mode vehicle in respect to a ground surface during a transition between the land mode and the flight mode.

9. The dual-mode vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the transition between the land mode and the flight mode includes rotating the central pivot about the longitudinal vehicle axis to raise the wheel arms and the wheels above the ground surface.

10. A method of transitioning a dual-mode vehicle from a land mode to a flight mode, comprising:
in the land mode, rotating a pair of spaced wheel arms about a central pivot to lower a body of the dual-mode vehicle to a ground surface wherein each wheel arm extends from the central pivot to a wheel;
rotating the central pivot about a longitudinal vehicle axis to raise the wheel arms and the wheels above the ground surface;
after raising the wheel arms and wheels above the ground surface, rotating the wheel arms about the central pivot to position the wheels for use as rotors in the flight mode; and
in the flight mode, rotating the wheels in order to extract rotor blades positioned within the wheels to extend beyond the wheels.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dual-mode vehicle includes a plurality of stabilizers for positioning the dual-mode vehicle in respect to the ground surface during the transition between the land mode and the flight mode.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein each wheel includes a rim defining a recess within an interior of the wheel.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each rotor blade is positioned within the recess in the land mode and positioned exterior to the rim in the flight mode.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each wheel includes a wheel cover positioned adjacent to the rim and covering the rotor blade in the land mode.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wheel cover is spaced from the rim in the flight mode allowing the rotor blade to transition from its position within the recess in the land mode to its position exterior to the rim in the flight mode.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Nam Taewoo
• Uehara Yasuo

Classifications

• B64C11/28

  Collapsible or foldable blades · CPC title

• B60F5/00

  Other vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media (flying-boats or seaplanes B64C35/00) · CPC title

• B60F5/02 Primary

  convertible into aircraft (convertible aircraft B64C37/00; convertible unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV]-type aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles, B64U10/70) · CPC title

• B64C37/00

  Convertible aircraft · CPC title

• A63H27/12

  Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops · CPC title