# US 11,111,030 B2 · Reactionless free-spinning motor with dual propellers

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- Number: US 11,111,030 B2
- Document ID: US11111030B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/150,332
- Filed: 2021-01-15
- Published: 2021-07-22
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17
- Assignees: Kitty Hawk Corporation
- Applicants: Kitty Hawk Corporation
- Inventors: Sebastian Thrun; Christopher Scott Saunders; Benjamin Otto Berry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111030B2

## CPC

- B64C 11/46: Arrangements of, or constructional features peculiar to, multiple propellers {(B64C11/306 takes precedence)}
- B64D 27/31: within, or attached to, wings
- B64D 27/34: All-electric aircraft
- B64D 35/06: the propellers or rotors being counter-rotating
- B64C 29/0033: {the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage}
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A system which includes a first propeller, a second propeller, an electromagnetic field emitter that is coupled to the first propeller, and an electromagnetic field receptor that is coupled to the second propeller. The electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field and in response to the electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller rotate in a first rotational direction and the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a first propeller;
a second propeller;
an electromagnetic field emitter that is coupled to the first propeller;
an electromagnetic field receptor that is coupled to the second propeller, wherein the electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field and in response to the electromagnetic field:
the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller rotate in a first rotational direction; and
the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction; and
at least one of the following:
a first mechanical coupling that mechanically reorients a direction of rotation between the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller such that the first propeller and the second propeller are not co-axial; or
a second mechanical coupling that mechanically reorients a direction of rotation between the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller such that the first propeller and the second propeller are not co-axial.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system recited in claim 1, wherein:
the system is included in a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle; and
the first propeller and the second propeller rotate about a substantially vertical axis of rotation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system recited in claim 1, wherein:
the system is included in a vehicle that takes off and lands using wing-borne flight; and
the first propeller and the second propeller rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis of rotation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first propeller and the second propeller rotate in one or more planes that are above a top of a fuselage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first propeller has a first blade length and the second propeller has a second blade length that is not equal to the first blade length.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first propeller has a first blade pitch setting and the second propeller has a second blade pitch setting that is not equal to the first blade pitch setting.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system recited in claim 1, wherein:
the first propeller has a shorter blade length than the second propeller; and
the first propeller has a higher blade pitch setting than second propeller.

### Claim 8

A method, comprising:
providing a first propeller;
providing a second propeller;
providing an electromagnetic field emitter that is coupled to the first propeller;
providing an electromagnetic field receptor that is coupled to the second propeller, wherein the electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field and in response to the electromagnetic field:
the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller rotate in a first rotational direction; and
the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction; and
providing at least one of the following:
a first mechanical coupling that mechanically reorients a direction of rotation between the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller such that the first propeller and the second propeller are not co-axial; or
a second mechanical coupling that mechanically reorients a direction of rotation between the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller such that the first propeller and the second propeller are not co-axial.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method recited in claim 8, wherein:
the method is performed by a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle; and
the first propeller and the second propeller rotate about a substantially vertical axis of rotation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method recited in claim 8, wherein:
the method is performed by a vehicle that takes off and lands using wing-borne flight; and
the first propeller and the second propeller rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis of rotation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method recited in claim 8, wherein the first propeller and the second propeller rotate in one or more planes that are above a top of a fuselage.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method recited in claim 8, wherein the first propeller has a first blade length and the second propeller has a second blade length that is not equal to the first blade length.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method recited in claim 8, wherein the first propeller has a first blade pitch setting and the second propeller has a second blade pitch setting that is not equal to the first blade pitch setting.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method recited in claim 8, wherein:
the first propeller has a shorter blade length than the second propeller; and
the first propeller has a higher blade pitch setting than second propeller.