Patent · US Active

Shifting a center of gravity of an aircraft

US11535366B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

4References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company · US

Inventor

William Thalheimer · Cambridge, US

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 25, 2020
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 12, 2041

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB64U30/20
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for shifting a center of gravity of an aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus includes a propulsion component, a moveable ballast component, and an assembly configured to translate the moveable ballast component. The propulsion component is configured to assist in transitioning the aircraft between a first mobility phase and a second mobility phase. The assembly is configured to translate the moveable ballast component between an aft position and a forward position of the aircraft based on the aircraft transitioning between the first mobility phase and the second mobility phase to shift the center of gravity of the aircraft along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.