Elongated nose structure to provide stability during boarding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821906-B1
Application number	US-201715428038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 8, 2017
Priority date	Feb 8, 2017
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A rotor with an elongated nosecone structure to provide stability when boarding or deplaning and to prevent damage to rotor blades is disclosed. A rotor as disclosed herein may include a plurality of rotor blades affixed to the hub structure; and an elongated nose structure extending away from the hub in a direction substantially orthogonal to a deployed direction of said rotor blades, the elongated nose structure having a length greater than a diameter of the elongated nose structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotor, comprising:
a plurality of rotor blades affixed to a hub structure; and
an elongated nose structure extending away from the hub in a direction substantially orthogonal to a deployed direction of said rotor blades, the elongated nose structure having a length greater than a diameter of the elongated nose structure;
wherein the rotor blades are affixed to the hub in a manner such that the rotor blades extend radially outward from the hub when a motive force is applied to a shaft on which the rotor is mounted; and
wherein the rotor blades are affixed to the hub via a pin, hinge, or other structure that allows the rotor blades to fold into a stowed position alongside the elongated nose structure when said motive force is not being applied to the shaft.

2. The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the length of said elongated nose structure is sufficient to engage by contact a surface opposite the rotor when a force is applied to a structure on which the rotor is mounted.

3. The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the length of said elongated nose structure is determined based at least in part on a blade length of said rotor blades.

4. The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the length of said elongated nose structure is determined based at least in part on a design expected tilt angle of an aircraft or other vehicle comprising the rotor.

5. The rotor of claim 4 , wherein the rotor is mounted on an underside of the aircraft or other vehicle.

6. A multicopter aircraft, comprising:
a body structure extending outward from a central cockpit section of the aircraft;
a rotor mounted to an underside of said body structure at a distal end of said body structure, said rotor comprising:
a plurality of rotor blades affixed to a hub structure;
an elongated nose structure extending away from the hub in a direction substantially orthogonal to a deployed direction of said rotor blades, the elongated nose structure having a length greater than a diameter of the elongated nose structure;

wherein the rotor blades are affixed to the hub in a manner such that the rotor blades extend radially outward from the hub when a motive force is applied to a shaft on which the rotor is mounted; and
wherein the rotor blades are affixed to the hub via a pin, hinge, or other structure that allows the rotor blades to fold into a stowed position alongside the elongated nose structure when said motive force is not being applied to the shaft.

7. The multicopter aircraft of claim 6 , wherein the body structure comprises a boom.

8. The multicopter aircraft of claim 6 , further comprising a pair of pontoons affixed to an underside of the aircraft, said pontoons being of a size and shape sufficient to enable the aircraft to land in the water and be supported by a combined buoyancy force generated by the pontoons.

9. The multicopter aircraft of claim 8 , wherein the length of said elongated nose structure is determined at least in part based on a vertical clearance between said rotor and a floating pier to which said aircraft is designed to be moored when on the water.

10. The multicopter aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the length of said elongated nose structure is determined at least in part based on an expected angle of tilt of aircraft alongside the floating pier.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Roop Joseph

Classifications

• B64C35/001 Primary

  with means for increasing stability on the water · CPC title

• B64C27/20 Primary

  Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms · CPC title

• B64C25/54

  Floats · CPC title

• B64F1/125

  Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters · CPC title

• B64C27/08

  with two or more rotors · CPC title