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US 12,221,210 B2Granted
Wing-in-ground effect vehicles and uses thereof
AssigneeLeVanta Tech Inc.
InventorsKelly A. Echols, Randall Petersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wing-in-ground effect (WIG) vehicles are disclosed herein. Hovercraft takeoff and landing modes are disclosed herein. Uses of WIG vehicles, including for maritime monitoring, are disclosed herein.
Claims16
A flying vehicle comprising:
- an airframe operatively connected to one or more blowers;
- an airfoil comprising;
- an upper surface and a lower surface extending laterally along a leading edge to first and second arcuate wingtips defining a concave region bounded by the lower surface of the airfoil;
- a channel extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the airfoil;
- a front flap pivotably attached to the leading edge, wherein the front flap is configured to seal against the leading edge when the front flap is extended downward and operating to trap fluid in the concave region when the airfoil is operating in a hovercraft mode, and wherein the front flap is configured to tuck up against the upper side of the lower surface of the airfoil when the airfoil is operating as a wing in a flight mode;
- wherein the airfoil is operatively connected to the airframe via the upper surface of the airfoil, and wherein the channel is in fluidic communication with at least one of the one or more blowers.
3 more elements
A flying vehicle comprising:
- an airframe;
- and
- an airfoil comprising:
- an upper surface and a lower surface extending laterally along a leading edge to first and second arcuate wingtips defining a concave region bounded by the lower surface of the airfoil;
- a channel extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the airfoil;
- a front flap pivotably attached to the leading edge, wherein the front flap is configured to seal against the leading edge when the front flap is extended downward and operating to trap fluid in the concave region when the airfoil is operating in a hovercraft mode, and wherein the front flap is configured to tuck up against the upper side of the lower surface of the airfoil when the airfoil is operating as a wing in a flight mode;
- wherein the airfoil is operatively connected to the airframe via the upper surface of the airfoil.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.