Tri-rotor aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing and transitioning to forward flight

US10538321B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA · US

Inventors

• David D. North · North Palm Beach, US
• Mark J. Aull · St. Bernard, US
• William J. Fredericks · Hampton, US
• Mark Moore · Henderson, US
• Paul M. Rothhaar · Newport News, US
• William Todd Hodges · Yorktown, US
• Zachary R. Johns · Virginia Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 11, 2018
• Grant date: Jan 21, 2020
• Expiry date: Sep 11, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/60
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices provide a vehicle, such as an aircraft, with rotors configured to function as a tri-copter for vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and a fixed-wing vehicle for forward flight. One rotor may be mounted at a front of the vehicle fuselage on a hinged structure controlled by an actuator to tilt from horizontal to vertical positions. Two additional rotors may be mounted on the horizontal surface of the vehicle tail structure with rotor axes oriented vertically to the fuselage. For forward flight of the vehicle, the front rotor may be rotated down such that the front rotor axis may be oriented horizontally along the fuselage and the front rotor may act as a propeller. For vertical flight, the front rotor may be rotated up such that the front rotor axis may be oriented vertically to the fuselage, while the tail rotors may be activated.