Distributed electric propulsion modular wing aircraft with blown wing and extreme flaps for VTOL and/or STOL flight

US12006030B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

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

Inventors

• Steven C. Geuther · Hampton, US
• David D. North · North Palm Beach, US
• Robert G. McSwain · Yorktown, US
• Michael D. Patterson · Yorktown, US
• Gregory Howland · Yorktown, US
• Jared S. Fell · Yorktown, US
• Christopher M. Cagle · Yorktown, US
• Xiaofan Fei · Crossville, US
• Siena Whiteside · Poquoson, US
• David A. Hare · Smithfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 2020
• Grant date: Jun 11, 2024
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2040

Classification

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

Abstract

An aircraft wing configuration for a vertical or a short take-off and landing aircraft having a plurality of propeller-blown wings mounted at different longitudinal locations along a fuselage of the vertical take-off and landing aircraft, producing two or more lifting surfaces, fixed at a predetermined acute wing angle greater than 0° and substantially less than 90° relative to a horizontal plane, and having a plurality of flaps disposed behind the wings. The configuration has a plurality of propellers distributed in front of the plurality of wings producing two or more lifting surfaces and mounted such that the wings are externally blown by forced airstreams from the propellers. The propellers produce distributed thrust components, and the plurality of flaps are in the forced airstreams of the propellers when one or more of the flaps is in an extended position.