# US 12,006,034 B2 · Articulated electric propulsion system and lightweight vertical take-off and landing aircraft using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,034 B2 - Document ID: US12006034B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/898,488 - Filed: 2022-08-30 - Published: 2023-05-04 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-18 - Assignees: Joby Aero, Inc. - Applicants: Joby Aero, Inc. - Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt; Alex Stoll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006034B2 ## CPC - B64C 29/0033: {the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage} - B64C 7/02: Nacelles - B64C 11/28: Collapsible or foldable blades - B64C 27/08: with two or more rotors - B64C 27/28: with forward-propulsion propellers pivotable to act as lifting rotors - B64C 27/30: with provision for reducing drag of inoperative rotor - B64C 39/068: {having multiple wings joined at the tips} - B64D 27/34: All-electric aircraft - B64D 27/357: using batteries - 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 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vertical take-off and landing aircraft, said vertical take-off and landing aircraft comprising: a left wing, said left wing comprising a plurality of left side propulsion assemblies; and a right wing, said right wing comprising a plurality of right side propulsion assemblies, wherein said propulsion assemblies comprise a stowable propeller system, said stowable propeller system comprising: a central hub, said central hub comprising a first rotation axis; a drive motor, said drive motor rigidly coupled to said central hub; and a plurality of stowable propeller blades, said plurality of stowable propeller blades pivotally attached to said central hub, said stowable propeller blades comprising blade tips at an end away from said central hub, wherein one or more of said plurality of left side propulsion assemblies further comprise an alternate forward flight propeller, and wherein one or more of said plurality of right side propulsion assemblies further comprise an alternate forward flight propeller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 1 wherein said blade tips of said stowable propeller blades when stowed reside forward of the leading edge of said left wing and said right wing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 1 wherein said propulsion assemblies further comprise a nacelle body, said nacelle body comprising recesses in its outer surface when said stowable propeller blades are in a deployed position, and wherein said stowable propeller blades are adapted to stow into said recesses in the outer surface of the nacelle body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 2 wherein said propulsion assemblies further comprise a nacelle body, said nacelle body comprising recesses in its outer surface when said stowable propeller blades are in a deployed position, and wherein said stowable propeller blades are adapted to stow into said recesses in the outer surface of the nacelle body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 1 wherein said stowable propeller system further comprises a first principal axis along its center, and wherein said stowable propeller blades are adapted to pivot from a stowed position in the recesses of the nacelle body to a deployed position to a deployed position substantially perpendicular to said first rotation axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 1 further comprising a rotary positional sensor adapted to sense the rotary position of said stowable propeller blades relative to said nacelle body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 2 further comprising a rotary positional sensor adapted to sense the rotary position of said stowable propeller blades relative to said nacelle body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 1 further comprising a stowing mechanism, said stowing mechanism adapted to stow said stowable propeller blades into said recesses in the outer surface of the nacelle body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 2 further comprising a stowing mechanism, said stowing mechanism adapted to stow said stowable propeller blades into said recesses in the outer surface of the nacelle body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 8 further comprising a spring system adapted to deploy the stowable propeller blades from their stowed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 9 further comprising a spring system adapted to deploy the stowable propeller blades from their stowed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 3 wherein the stowed propeller blades comprise all or most of the effective wetted area of portions of the nacelle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 4 wherein the stowed propeller blades comprise all or most of the effective wetted area of portions of the nacelle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 1 wherein said alternate forward flight propellers reside forward along said first rotation axis than said stowable propeller blades. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 2 wherein said alternate forward flight propellers reside forward along said first rotation axis than said stowable propeller blades. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The vertical take-off and landing aircraft of claim 4 wherein said alternate forward flight propellers reside forward along said first rotation axis than said stowable propeller blades.