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US 10,479,482 B1Granted
Propeller with passive variable pitch and rotatable base
AssigneeKitty Hawk Corporation
InventorsSteffen Kuentzel, Damon Vander Lind
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an embodiment, a propeller assembly includes a blade and a joint. The blade is adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade to vary a pitch of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade. The joint is adapted to couple the blade to a central shaft of the assembly via the plurality of bearings, where the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft of the assembly such that in a first position, the blade is at a first angle. In a second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
Claims21
A propeller assembly comprising:
- a blade adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade to vary a pitch of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade and the plurality of bearings includes a swivel bearing;
- and
- a joint adapted to couple the blade to a central shaft of the assembly via the plurality of bearings, wherein the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft of the assembly such that in a first position, the blade is at a first angle and in a second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
A propeller assembly comprising:
- a blade adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade to vary a pitch of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade;
- and
- a joint adapted to couple the blade to a central shaft of the assembly via the plurality of bearings, the joint including:
- a joint shaft;
- a first component including at least one angled arm adapted to receive the blade at a first point of attachment;
- and
- a second component including at least one angled arm adapted to receive the blade at a second point of attachment, wherein the first component and the second component are each adapted to telescope and twist about the joint shaft;
- wherein the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft of the assembly such that in a first position, the blade is at a first angle and in a second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a propeller assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a blade adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade and the plurality of bearings includes a swivel bearing;
- and
- coupling a joint to the blade to a central shaft via the plurality of bearings, wherein the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft of the propeller assembly such that in a first position, the blade is at a first angle and in a second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
An aircraft comprising:
- a propeller mounted on a wing of the aircraft, wherein the propeller is adapted to tilt to a first position during vertical flight and tilt to a second position during forward flight, the propeller including:
- a blade adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade to vary a pitch of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade and the plurality of bearings includes a swivel bearing;
- and
- a joint adapted to couple the blade to a central shaft via the plurality of bearings, wherein the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft such that in the first position, the blade is at a first angle and in the second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
1 more element
A method of manufacturing a propeller assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a blade adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade;
- and
- providing a joint including:
- a joint shaft;
- a first component including at least one angled arm adapted to receive the blade at a first point of attachment;
- and
- a second component including at least one angled arm adapted to receive the blade at a second point of attachment, wherein the first component and the second component are each adapted to telescope and twist about the joint shaft;
- and
- coupling the joint to the blade and a central shaft via the plurality of bearings, wherein the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft of the propeller assembly such that in a first position, the blade is at a first angle and in a second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
6 more elements
An aircraft comprising:
- a propeller mounted on a wing of the aircraft, wherein the propeller is adapted to tilt to a first position during vertical flight and tilt to a second position during forward flight, the propeller including:
- a blade adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade to vary a pitch of the blade, wherein the blade includes a plurality of bearings provided on a proximal end of the blade;
- and
- a joint adapted to couple the blade to a central shaft via the plurality of bearings, the joint including:
- a joint shaft;
- a first component including at least one angled arm adapted to receive the blade at a first point of attachment;
- and
- a second component including at least one angled arm adapted to receive the blade at a second point of attachment, wherein the first component and the second component are each adapted to telescope and twist about the joint shaft;
- wherein the joint is adapted to telescope and twist along the central shaft such that in a first position, the blade is at a first angle and in a second position, the blade is at a second angle greater than the first angle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.