US 10,315,759 B2 · Multi-rotor vehicle with yaw control and autorotation

Abstract

A vehicle with superior performance and reliability. The vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, is capable of vertical takeoff and landing, uses three swashless, variable-pitch vertical lift main rotors with a yaw tail rotor system. Two rear main rotors are optionally tiltrotors, which pivot to increase forward speed without the increased coefficient of drag inherent in tilting the entire vehicle. The three main rotors are positioned in an equilateral triangular configuration, improving balance, increasing load-bearing strength, and making it more compact in size. Movements are controlled through changes in pitch of the rotors, allowing the motors to maintain constant governed rotations per minute, maximizing drivetrain efficiency. Various embodiments allow for smaller vehicle size with greater performance than prior art vehicles.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A passenger vehicle comprising:

a fuselage having a front portion and a rear portion;
a main rotor system connected to the fuselage, wherein the main rotor system further comprises a front independent rotor system disposed on the front portion of the fuselage and a first and second rear independent rotor systems disposed on the rear portion of the fuselage, wherein each of the independent rotors systems are positioned on the fuselage in a fixed equilateral triangular configuration and wherein each of the independent rotor systems comprises a swashless variable pitch rotor and a variable speed motor;
and
a yaw rotor system disposed on a distal end of an elongated yaw arm wherein the yaw arm is connected to the rear portion of the fuselage at a proximal end such that the yaw rotor system is in a fixed position distal to each of the first and second rear independent rotor systems and wherein the yaw rotor system comprises a swashless variable pitch rotor and a variable speed motor.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-rotor vehicle with yaw control and autorotation

Life of this patent

Multi-rotor vehicle with yaw control and autorotation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19