Patent•
Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
31 Oct 2002-
TL;DR: In this paper, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft is constructed with turbofan engines with separate core engines with biaxial support so that the fan engines are rotatable in the direction of pitching and rolling.
Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft is superior in maneuverability, safety, and mobility. The aircraft has turbofan engines with separate core engines having fan engines used commonly for cruising and lifting up. The thrust from the fan engines can be directed to all directions by supporting the fan engines of the turbofan engines with separate core engines with biaxial support so that the fan engines are rotatable in the direction of pitching and rolling. The fan engines are mounted on both sides of each of front and rear sings. With this construction, the VTOL aircraft can cruise and hover by tilting the fan engines about the two axes while using the fan engines commonly for cruising and hovering.
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Patent•
24 Jan 2011
TL;DR: In this article, a fixed wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for use as a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) or unmanned vehicle is presented, where a double-ended drive shaft engine is mounted sideways in the front of the fuselage to serve a first pair of ducted fans mounted at the ends of the front wing.
Abstract: A fixed wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for use as a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) or unmanned vehicle. A first double-ended drive shaft engine is mounted sideways in the front of the fuselage to serve a first pair of ducted fans mounted at the ends of the front wing. A second double-ended drive shaft engine is mounted sideways in the rear of the fuselage to serve a second pair of ducted fans mounted on the rear fuselage. The ducted fans are rotatable from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation to permit the aircraft to take off and land as a VTOL or conventional aircraft, and to be flown as a conventional aircraft. A parachute is provided with inflation assistance to permit rapid low altitude deployment for a controlled descent of the aircraft in an emergency.
186 citations
Patent•
17 May 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned personal flying device (PFD) is used to deliver a deployable descent system to an elevated location at which people await rescue, such as people trapped in an upper story of a burning building.
Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or manned/unmanned personal flying device (PFD) may be used to deliver a deployable descent system to an elevated location at which people await rescue, such as people trapped in an upper story of a burning building. The UAV or PFD may be used to deliver the descent system, attach the descent system to the building, and deploy the descent system. After deployment, the descent system may be tensioned to prevent sway and facilitate descent. Standoffs may be installed or integrated into the descent system to provide for adequate handholds for descending individuals. Various equipment and methods used in such systems are described herein.
175 citations
Patent•
23 Apr 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, the same set of engines are used for takeoff and landing as well as for forward flight for a fixed-wing aerial vehicle adapted to takeoff with the wings in a vertical as opposed to horizontal flight attitude and then transitions to a horizontal flight path.
Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using the same set of engines for takeoff and landing as well as for forward flight. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to takeoff with the wings in a vertical as opposed to horizontal flight attitude which takes off in this vertical attitude and then transitions to a horizontal flight path. An aerial vehicle which controls the attitude of the vehicle during takeoff and landing by alternating the thrust of engines, which are separated in at least two dimensions relative to the horizontal during takeoff, and which may also control regular flight in some aspects by the use of differential thrust of the engines.
174 citations
Patent•
16 Jun 2011
TL;DR: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has a fuselage with three wings and six synchronously tiltable propulsion units, each one mounted above, below, or on each half of the aforementioned three wings as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft having a fuselage with three wings and six synchronously tilt-able propulsion units, each one mounted above, below, or on each half of the aforementioned three wings. The propulsion units are vertical for vertical flight, and horizontal for forward flight. The aircraft wings are placed such that the rear wing is above the middle wing which is placed above the front wing. The placement of each of the propulsion units relative to the center of gravity of the aircraft about the vertical axis inherently assures continued stability in vertical flight mode, following the loss of thrust from any one propulsion unit. The placement of the propulsion units, viewing the aircraft from the front, is such that each propulsion units' thrust wake does not materially disturb the propulsion unit to its rear. When engine driven propellers or rotors are utilized, flapped wing panels are attached outboard of the forward and/or rearward propulsion units to provide yaw control during vertical flight.
144 citations
Patent•
27 Mar 2013
TL;DR: In this article, the first and second engines are configured for freewheeling such that if one of the engines loses power, the other of the first engine continues to power the aircraft.
Abstract: An aircraft may have a fuselage, a left wing extending from the fuselage, a right wing extending from the fuselage, a tail section extending from a rear portion of the fuselage, and a first engine and a second engine operably connected by a common driveshaft, wherein the first and second engines are configured for freewheeling such that if one of the first and second engines loses power the other of the first and second engines continues to power the aircraft.
124 citations
References
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Patent•
15 Nov 1993
TL;DR: In this paper, a vertical take-off and landing vehicle is used for improving stability by establishing conversion of thrust vectors over the center of gravity of the vehicle while in the hover position.
Abstract: In a vertical take-off and landing vehicle, the invention is a method for improving stability by virtue of establishing conversion of thrust vectors over the center of gravity of the vehicle while in the hover position. Through the use of selected angles of inclination of the thrust-generating devices, a positive static stability of the aircraft is maintained. In addition, the spars supporting the thrust-generating devices are mounted in a fixed angular relationship to the centerline of the aircraft's fuselage, to achieve the desired inclination of the thrust vectors of the lift-generating devices toward the centerline of the vehicle, by simple rotation of the spars on which the lift-generating devices are mounted.
96 citations
Patent•
31 Mar 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a mass transit system where passengers are loaded onto a craft with integral passenger pod and the craft lifts vertically from the docking terminal until it reaches an appropriate commuting altitude within 1,000 feet of the ground at which time the craft will fly to a second docking terminal and vertically descend to the second terminal for unloading of passengers.
Abstract: The invention relates to a mass transit method including a docking terminal where passengers are loaded onto a craft with integral passenger pod. The craft lifts vertically from the docking terminal until it reaches an appropriate commuting altitude within 1,000 feet of the ground at which time the craft will fly to a second docking terminal and vertically descend to the second terminal for unloading of passengers. The commuting routes are networked to create an urban-suburban-rural mass transit system. The utility area of the craft can be detached and replaced. For instance, a passenger pod can be interchanged with a cargo, an emergency medical service (rescue) or a military unit pod for an innovative and versatile means of transportation.
51 citations
Patent•
06 Apr 1993
TL;DR: In this paper, a new magnetic pattern can be written in magnetic recording layers 43, 44 at any time when the apparatus starts driving or during driving of the apparatus, and the axial torque of a shaft 3 can be operated accurately without being adversely influenced by the residual torsion of a turbine shaft 3 or the positional displacement of magnetic heads 46, 47.
Abstract: PURPOSE:To make it easy to form a part to be detected, to improve the assembling accuracy and easiness of a detecting means as well as the detecting accuracy of the axial torque by forming the part to be detected in a pair of members at the to-be- detected side fixed to a power transmission shaft. CONSTITUTION:In this apparatus, a new magnetic pattern can be written in magnetic recording layers 43, 44 at any time when the apparatus starts driving or during driving of the apparatus, and the axial torque of a shaft 3 can be operated accurately without being adversely influenced by the residual torsion of a turbine shaft 3 or the positional displacement of magnetic heads 46, 47. The recording layers 43, 44 are easily formed by flame-spraying magnetic substance to cylindrical members 40, 41 which are made of aluminum alloy and lighter in weight than the shaft 3 for realizing magnetic properties. Moreover, the members 40, 41 rotated integrally with respective fixed parts 3a, 3b are extended to a position corresponding to a cover wall 24, and the recording layers 43, 44 are formed at end parts of the members. Therefore, it is possible to assemble the heads 46, 47 integrally with a holder member 45 with good accuracy, and the assembling easiness is improved. Further, since the members 40, 41 are made long to enlarge the distance between fixed parts 40a and 41a, the detecting accuracy is improved.
10 citations