Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9834305-B2
Application number	US-201514706905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2015
Priority date	May 3, 2013
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Taylor Dana J
• Tokumaru Phillip T
• Hibbs Bart Dean
• Parks William Martin
• Ganzer David Wayne
• King Joseph Frederick

Classifications

• B64C29/02

  having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded · CPC title

• B64C27/605

  including swash plate, spider or cam mechanisms · CPC title

• B64C27/54

  Mechanisms for controlling blade adjustment or movement relative to rotor head, e.g. lag-lead movement · CPC title

• B64C29/00

  Aircraft capable of landing or taking-off vertically, e.g. vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (rotorcraft B64C27/00) · CPC title

• B64C27/26

  characterised by provision of fixed wings · CPC title