Multi-Segment Oblique Flying Wing Aircraft
AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.
InventorsGregor Veble Mikic, JoeBen Bevirt, Benjamin John Brelje
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-segment oblique flying wing aircraft which has three distinct segments including two outer wing segments and a central wing segment. The central segment may be thicker in the vertical direction and adapted to hold pilots and passengers. The outer wing segments may be substantially thinner and may taper as they progress outboard from the wing center. The multi-segment oblique flying wing aircraft be adapted for rotating into a high speed flight configuration, or may be adapted for take-off and cruise at a constant angle. In an extreme flight case, the central wing segment may rotate to a local sweep of ninety degrees.
Claims22
An aerial vehicle, said aerial vehicle comprising an oblique flying wing, said oblique flying wing comprising:
- a center wing segment, said center wing segment comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading edge and said trailing edge parallel within 10 degrees along their length;
- a forward wing segment, said forward wing segment coupled to a first end of said center segment, said forward wing segment comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the spanwise average of the quarter chord of said forward wing segment is swept more than 10 degrees differently than the spanwise average of the quarter chord of the center wing segment;
- and
- a rear wing segment, said rear wing segment coupled to a second end of said center segment, said rear wing segment comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the spanwise average of the quarter chord of said rear wing segment is swept more than 10 degrees differently than said spanwise average of the quarter chord of the center wing segment.
An aerial vehicle, said aerial vehicle comprising an oblique flying wing, said oblique flying wing comprising:
- a center wing segment;
- a forward wing segment, said forward wing segment coupled to a first end of said center segment, said forward wing segment comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the spanwise average of the quarter chord of said forward wing segment is swept more than 10 degrees differently than the spanwise average of the quarter chord of the center wing segment;
- and
- a rear wing segment, said rear wing segment coupled to a second end of said center segment, said rear wing segment comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the spanwise average of the quarter chord of said rear wing segment is swept more than 10 degrees differently than said spanwise average of the quarter chord of the center wing segment, wherein said center wing segment is substantially thicker than said forward wing segment and said rear wing segment, and wherein said forward wing segment is forward swept in the range of 15 to 35 degrees, and wherein said middle wing segment is swept in the range of 35 to 65 degrees, and wherein said rear wing segment is rearward swept in the range of 25 to 45 degrees, while in a cruise configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.