Lockable free wing aircraft
OwnerHugh Schmittleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The aircraft includes a free wing freely pivotally supported about a spanwise axis for flight in a free wing mode and lockable in selected predetermined, fixed angles of incidence with respect to a fuselage for flight in a fixed wing mode. The predetermined angle of incidence in the fixed wing flight mode is selected to provide sufficient lift for flying the aircraft at low speeds as necessary for takeoff and landing. The aircraft can be converted in flight between the free wing or conventional fixed wing aircraft flight modes. A control system is provided for selectively enabling or disabling the elevators on the horizontal stabilizer and the wing flaps.
Claims22
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a wing having an aerodynamic center and connected to said fuselage for free pivotal movement about a spanwise axis forwardly of said aerodynamic center thereby establishing a free wing mode of aircraft operation;
- and
- means for selectively locking said wing at a substantially fixed predetermined angle of incidence with respect to said fuselage to thereby terminate said free wing mode and selectively establish a fixed wing mode of aircraft operation during flight and on the ground.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a wing having an aerodynamic center and connected to said fuselage for free pivotal movement about a spanwise axis forwardly of said aerodynamic center thereby establishing a free wing mode of aircraft operation;
- and
- means for selectively locking said wing at a substantially fixed predetermined angle of incidence with respect to said fuselage to establish a fixed wing mode of aircraft operation, wherein said locking means includes a fluid actuated cylinder.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a wing having an aerodynamic center and connected to said fuselage for free pivotal movement about a spanwise axis forwardly of said aerodynamic center thereby establishing a free wing mode of aircraft operation;
- and
- means for selectively locking said wing at a substantially fixed predetermined angle of incidence with respect to said fuselage to establish a fixed wing mode of aircraft operation, wherein said locking means includes a screw mechanism.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a wing having an aerodynamic center and connected to said fuselage for free pivotal movement about a spanwise axis forwardly of said aerodynamic center thereby establishing a free wing mode of aircraft operation;
- and
- means for selectively locking said wing at a substantially fixed predetermined angle of incidence with respect to said fuselage to establish a fixed wing mode of aircraft operation, wherein said aircraft has an elevator on said fuselage and a control system for said aircraft for controlling said elevator, and means for disengaging said elevator control system.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a wing having an aerodynamic center and connected to said fuselage for free pivotal movement about a spanwise axis forwardly of said aerodynamic center establishing a first free wing mode of aircraft operation;
- and
- a locking mechanism for selectively locking said wing at a predetermined angle of incidence with respect to said fuselage establishing a second fixed wing mode of aircraft operation, said locking mechanism including a damper for damping the pivotal movement of said wing relative to the fuselage during transition of the aircraft between said first and second modes of operation.
In an aircraft having a free wing, a method of aircraft operation comprising the steps of:
- operating the aircraft in a free wing mode;
- and
- locking the free wing during flight at a predetermined angle of incidence relative to said fuselage for aircraft operation in a fixed wing mode, wherein the aircraft has a fuselage, a horizontal stabilizer and elevators on said stabilizer, and including the step of disabling the elevators during flight in the free wing flight mode.
In an aircraft having a free wing, a method of aircraft operation comprising the steps of:
- operating the aircraft in a free wing mode;
- and
- terminating said free wing mode by locking the free wing during flight at a predetermined angle of incidence relative to said fuselage for aircraft operation in a fixed wing mode.
In an aircraft having a free wing, a method of aircraft operation comprising the steps of:
- operating the aircraft in a fixed wing mode with the free wing locked at a predetermined angle of incidence relative to said fuselage;
- and
- terminating said fixed wing mode by unlocking the free wing during flight in said fixed wing mode for aircraft operation in a free wing mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.