Vertical lift flying craft
OwnerG. Douglas Baldwininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disclosed vertical lift flying craft includes a lift unit that, during operation, develops a force including an upward component. A payload unit suspends from the lift unit. The payload unit suspends from the lift unit in such a way as to impart lateral stability while remaining capable of horizontal flight, without incurring the adverse effects of a downward pitching moment. In addition to a lift unit and a payload unit, the vertical lift flying craft includes a pair of bearings and a suspension structure, which cooperate to suspend the payload unit from the lift unit. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.
Claims28
A flying craft comprising:
- (a) a suspension structure having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a lift unit coupled to the first end of the suspension structure and:
- (1) freely rotatable, within a predetermined angular range of at least ninety degrees, about only one rotational axis perpendicular to an axis passing through the first and second ends of the suspension structure, and
- (2) substantially restricted in movement relative to the first end of the suspension structure in a direction parallel to the rotational axis;
- and
- (c) a payload unit coupled to the second end of the suspension structure.
Apparatus for suspending a payload in flight, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a lift unit;
- and
- (b) means for suspending the payload from the lift unit wherein the payload is free to pivot with respect to the lift unit about one axis while substantially restricting pivotal movement about all axes orthogonal thereto.
A method for transporting a payload, the method comprising:
- (a) operating a lift unit to develop a force having an upward component;
- (b) transitioning the lift unit between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation with respect to the ground;
- and
- (c) suspending the payload from the lift unit wherein the payload is free to pivot with respect to the lift unit about a first axis while substantially restricting pivotal movement about all axes orthogonal thereto;
- whereby the payload maintains a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the ground while the vehicle transitions between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation.
A flying craft comprising:
- (a) a suspension structure having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a lift unit coupled to the first end of the suspension structure and:
- (1) freely rotatable, within at least a predetermined angular range, about only one rotational axis perpendicular to an axis passing through the first and second ends of the suspension structure, and
- (2) substantially restricted in movement relative to the first end of the suspension structure in a direction parallel to the rotational axis;
- and
- (c) a payload unit lacking structure to support its own weight in flight and coupled to the second end of the suspension structure, wherein the payload unit has at least a significant part of its weight suspended from the lift unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.