A lift lever assembly for a vertical takeoff and landing (vtol) aircraft and a method for its use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024327012-A1
Application number	US-202217966251-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2022
Priority date	Oct 14, 2022
Publication date	Oct 3, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lift lever assembly for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft is disclosed. The assembly includes a lever configured to control a lift propulsor of an aircraft. The assembly additionally includes at least a handle mechanically coupled to the lever, wherein the handle configured to allow transition of the lever from a thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position when the at least a handle is in an active position. The assembly also includes at least a sensor in communication with the lever, wherein the at least a sensor is configured to identify when the lever transitions from the thrust-engaged position to the thrust-disengaged position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A lift lever assembly for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, wherein the lift lever assembly comprises:
a lever configured to control a lift propulsor of an aircraft; at least a handle mechanically coupled to the lever, wherein the handle configured to allow, while the handle is in an active position, transition of the lever from a thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position; and at least a sensor in communication with the lever, wherein the at least a sensor is configured to identify when the lever transitions from the thrust-engaged position to the thrust-disengaged position.

2 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least a handle is configured to restrict transition of the lever from the thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position while the at least a handle is in an inactive position.

3 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein engaging the lift propulsors comprises:
disengaging at least a stopper; placing the at least a handle in the active position; and placing the lever in the thrust-engaged position.

4 . The lift lever assembly of claim 3 , wherein the wherein disengaging the stopper comprises rotating handle on a hinge.

5 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein disengaging the lift propulsors comprises:
placing the at least a handle in an inactive position; and transitioning the lever into the thrust-disengaged position.

6 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift lever assembly further comprises at least a stopper.

7 . The lift lever assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least a stopper is configured to restrict the transition of the lever from the thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position

8 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least a sensor is configured to detect a position parameter of the lever.

9 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift propulsor comprises an electric motor.

10 . The lift lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

11 . A method of use for a lift lever assembly for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, wherein the lift lever assembly comprises:
controlling, using a lever, a lift propulsor of an aircraft; allowing transition, using at least a handle mechanically coupled to the lever, of the lever from a thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position when the at least a handle is in an active position; and sensing, using at least a sensor in communication with the lever, when the lever transitions from the thrust-engaged position to the thrust-disengaged position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least a handle is configured to restrict transition of the lever from the thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position while the at least a handle is in an inactive position.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein engaging the lift propulsors comprises:
disengaging at least a stopper; placing the at least a handle in an active position; and placing the lever in the thrust-engaged position.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the wherein disengaging the stopper comprises rotating handle on a hinge.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein disengaging the lift propulsors comprises:
placing the at least a handle in an inactive position; and transitioning the lever into the thrust-disengaged position.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises restricting using at least a stopper.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises restricting, using the at least a stopper, the transition of the lever from the thrust-engaged position to a thrust-disengaged position

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises sensing, using the at least a sensor, a position parameter of the lever.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lift propulsor is comprised of an electric motor.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the aircraft comprises an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Assignees

• Beta Air Llc

Inventors

• Freiheit Collin
• Spiegel Cody
• Moy Nicholas

Classifications

• B64C29/0025

  the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage · CPC title

• B64D31/04

  actuated personally · CPC title

• B64C29/0008

  having its flight directional axis horizontal when grounded · CPC title

• B64D31/16

  for electric power plants · CPC title

• B64D31/06 Primary

  actuated automatically · CPC title