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US 11,999,473 B2Granted
Self-orienting pods
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorTodd A. Spierling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes an electric motor. A drive shaft is connected to be driven by the electric motor. A propulsor is connected to be driven by the shaft. The propulsor is configured to pivot to a first orientation configured to produce lift when the motor rotates the shaft in a first direction, and to pivot to a second orientation configured to produce thrust when the motor rotates the shaft in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a drive shaft connected to be driven by the electric motor;
- and
- a propulsor connected to be driven by the shaft, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot to a first orientation configured to produce lift when the electric motor rotates the shaft in a first direction and to pivot to a second orientation configured to produce thrust when the electric motor rotates the shaft in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot back and forth between the first and second orientations under actuation of torque from the drive shaft without any other actuator, and wherein the electric motor is configured to both provide the actuation of the propulsor between the first and second orientations and power the propulsor to rotate to provide the thrust and lift.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- powering a propulsor with a motor turning in a first direction, wherein the propulsor is in a first orientation relative to a main aircraft body;
- and
- reversing power to the propulsor by turning the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein reversing power to the propulsor changes orientation of the propulsor to a second orientation relative to the main aircraft body, wherein the first orientation is configured for vertical thrust, wherein the second orientation is configured for horizontal thrust, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot back and forth between the first and second orientations, wherein changing the orientation of the propulsor is accomplished solely by changing direction of the motor without a dedicated actuator for changing the orientation of the propulsor, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot back and forth between the first and second orientations under actuation of torque from a drive shaft without any other actuator, and wherein the motor both provides the actuation of the propulsor between the first and second orientations and powers the propulsor to rotate to provide the horizontal thrust and the vertical thrust.
A system comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a drive shaft connected to be driven by the electric motor;
- and
- a propulsor connected to be driven by the shaft, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot to a first orientation configured to produce lift when the electric motor rotates the shaft in a first direction and to pivot to a second orientation configured to produce thrust when the electric motor rotates the shaft in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, wherein the propulsor is mounted on a wing that is fixed to a main aircraft body, wherein the system is configured to change orientation of the propulsor solely by changing direction of the electric motor without a dedicated actuator for changing the orientation of the propulsor, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot back and forth between the first and second orientations under actuation of torque from the drive shaft without any other actuator, and wherein the electric motor is configured to both provide the actuation of the propulsor between the first and second orientations and power the propulsor to rotate to provide the thrust and lift.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.