US 7,198,223 B2 · Ultralight coaxial rotor aircraft

Abstract

An ultralight coaxial dual rotor helicopter having a substantially L shaped frame. Attached to the back of the frame is a vertical shaft engine, and a pair of yaw paddles for controlling yaw of the craft. The drive shaft connects to a belt drive at the top of the frame, which transmits the engine power to a transmission and coaxial drive gear for driving the rotors. Crank actuators are provided for tilting the rotor axis to control the pitch and roll of the craft. A pilot seat and ballast tank are attached to the front of the frame. The ballast tank may be filled with a volume of water to balance the craft for the weight of the pilot. The fuel tank is located behind the pilot seat on the centerline of the helicopter, such that as fuel is used and the weight of fuel in the tank changes, the balance of the craft will not be affected.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A rotorcraft, comprising:

an airframe having a top and a bottom;
a rotor attached to the airframe adjacent the top of the airframe;
a four-stroke engine vertically mounted to the airframe adjacent the bottom of the airframe;
a driveshaft extending between the engine and a location adjacent the top of the airframe, said driveshaft being coupled to the rotor adjacent the top of the airframe;
and
a plurality of pulleys carried by the airframe, one being operably coupled to the driveshaft, and one being operably coupled to the rotor, and a continuous belt operably coupling the pulleys;
wherein the pulley coupled to the driveshaft is positioned aft of the pulley coupled to the rotor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultralight coaxial rotor aircraft

Life of this patent

Ultralight coaxial rotor aircraft

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16