Impact resistant propeller system, fast response electric propulsion system and lightweight vertical take-off and landing aircraft using same
AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.
InventorsJoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using pivoting thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to takeoff with thrust units providing vertical thrust and then transitioning to a horizontal flight path. An aerial vehicle with pivoting thrust units with propellers, wherein some or all of the propellers are able to be stowed and fully nested during forward flight. An aerial vehicle adapted to withstand impacts upon its propellers. An aerial vehicle able to quickly alter the thrust of its propellers.
Claims16
An impact resistant propeller system, said impact resistant propeller system comprising:
- a propeller, said propeller having a primary spin direction along a first spin axis to provide positive thrust, said propeller comprising:
- a central hub, said central hub comprising a first rotation axis;
- a plurality of propeller blades, each of said plurality of propeller blades pivotally attached along a first pivot axis to said central hub,
- wherein the first pivot axis is angled such that pivoting a propeller blade backwards along said first spin axis causes the propeller blade to rotate counter to said primary spin direction.
A quick response propeller system for an aerial vehicle, said system comprising:
- a central hub;
- a plurality of propeller blades, each of said plurality of propeller blades pivotally attached along a first pivot axis to said central hub,
- wherein the first pivot axis is angled such that pivoting a propeller blade backwards along said first spin axis from a position forward of normal to the spin axis causes a change in pitch of the propeller blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.