Auxiliary power system for rotorcraft with folding propeller arms and crumple zone loading gear
US11059598B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/60
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vertical take-off and loading (VTOL) rotary aircraft or helicopter has eight propellers in a quad propeller arm configuration where each propeller arm has two counter-rotating propellers. Folding propeller arms are designed to allow storage in a single car sized garage. Each propeller may be powered by a three-phase alternating current motor. The main power plant for the aircraft is a gas combustion engine that generates electricity. If the gas engine fails, a battery backup system will safely bring the aircraft down for a controlled landing. The direct current bus is redundant in that even with a gas combustion engine failure the direct current bus battery pack will safely bring down the aircraft. Various embodiments of this invention may also include a landing gear crumple zone designed to soften a hard landing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.