Methods and apparatus for vertical short takeoff and landing and operational control
OwnerRaymond Don Haydeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for vertical or short takeoff and landing, and operational control during flight. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises two or more counter driven rings with one or more airfoils attached. In one variant, there is an upper ring and a lower ring, each with multiple airfoils attached. In one variant, lift is generated largely via ambient air currents, allowing for long term on-station operation of the device. In another variant, a fuselage (or parts thereof) of the apparatus can be independently controlled, including for example as to attitude relative to other components of the craft.
Claims21
-14. (canceled)
A vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) apparatus, comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a fuselage ring coupled at two or more connection points with the fuselage;
- a plurality of airfoils;
- a power ring coupled to respective ones of the plurality of airfoils;
- and
- a control ring that is communicatively coupled with respective ones of the plurality of airfoils and configured to articulate relative to at least a portion of the power ring so as to cause a change in pitch of one or more of the plurality of airfoils;
- wherein the fuselage is configured to articulate with respect to the fuselage ring.
A vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) apparatus, comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a fuselage ring coupled at two or more connection points with the fuselage;
- a plurality of airfoils;
- a power ring coupled to respective ones of the plurality of airfoils, the plurality of airfoils disposed radially around an outer periphery of the power ring yet not directly coupled to the power ring;
- and
- a control ring that is directly or indirectly coupled with respective ones of the plurality of airfoils;
- wherein the fuselage is configured to controllably articulate with respect to the fuselage ring.
A vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) apparatus, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a fuselage coupled at two or more connection points with the support structure;
- a plurality of variable-pitch airfoils;
- a power ring configured to power rotation of the plurality of variable pitch airfoils around a central axis of the support structure;
- and
- a control ring that is directly or indirectly coupled with respective ones of the plurality of variable airfoils and configured to articulate relative to at least a portion of the power ring so as to cause a change in pitch of one or more of the plurality of variable-pitch airfoils;
- wherein the fuselage is configured to articulate with respect to the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.