US 2025/0019082 A1Published application

Vtol aircraft with dual propellers and directional clutch

AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.

InventorsJoeben BEVIRT, Alex STOLL

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using a set of wing mounted thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle may have deployment mechanisms which deploy electric motor driven propellers from a forward facing to a vertical orientation. The deployment mechanisms deploy the rotor forward and up as they deploy from a forward flight configuration to a vertical thrust configuration. A single motor may drive two co-axial propellers, with a first propeller driven when the motor spins in a first direction, and a second propeller driven when the motor spins in a second direction.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical take-off and horizontal flight, said aerial vehicle comprising:

a main vehicle body;
a plurality of electric motors;
one or more electric power sources, said one or more electric power sources electrically coupled to said electric motors;
a right side wing, said right side wing comprising:
one or more right wing rotor assemblies, each of said right wing rotor assemblies comprising:
an electric motor;
a first propeller;
a second propeller;
and
a clutch, wherein said first propeller is powered when said clutch operates in a first mode, and wherein said second propeller is powered when said clutch operates in a second mode;
and
a right side wing, said right side wing comprising:
one or more left wing rotor assemblies, each of said left wing rotor assemblies comprising:
an electric motor;
a first propeller;
a second propeller;
and
a clutch, wherein said first propeller is powered when said clutch operates in a first mode, and wherein said second propeller is powered when said clutch operates in a second mode.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/401,316Filed 29 Dec 2023
Priority: 18 Mar 2014
Published: 16 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B64C 11/28
Constructional features: collapsible or foldable blades
B64C 29/0033
The lift during taking-off being created by free or ducted propellers or by blowers: the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage
B64C 39/068
Having disc- or ring-shaped wings: having multiple wings joined at the tips
B64D 27/31
Aircraft characterised by electric power plants: within, or attached to, wings

Family

Application14/218,845Continuation · filed 18 Mar 2014
Application15/641,129Continuation · filed 3 Jul 2017
Application16/596,497Continuation · filed 8 Oct 2019
Application16/815,006Continuation · filed 11 Mar 2020
Application17/388,262Continuation · filed 29 Jul 2021
Application18/097,497Continuation · filed 17 Jan 2023
Application18/401,316Continuation
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.