Aerial vehicle with variable aspect ratio deployable wings
AssigneeMbda Incorporated
InventorHank O'Shea
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate a wing arrangement for an aerial vehicle configured to adjust the vehicles aspect ratio in response to flight mission parameters. The wing arrangement may include a pair of wing assemblies capable of deploying to a first winged position defining a first aspect ratio. Each wing assembly may have a forward inboard wing pivotally connected to the fuselage and an aft inboard wing pivotally connected to the carriage. The forward inboard wing and aft inboard wing of each assembly may be connected, forming a bi-plane configuration. Additionally, the each assembly may include a set of outboard wings configured to telescope from the inboard wings to an extended winged position defining a second aspect ratio greater than the first aspect ratio.
Claims20
A wing arrangement for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a deployment mechanism configured to attach to a first side of a fuselage and configured to move from a first position to a second position;
- a first wing configured to be rotationally coupled to a second side of the fuselage;
- a second wing configured to be rotationally coupled to the deployment mechanism and rotationally coupled to the first wing;
- a third wing configured to be rotationally coupled to the second side of the fuselage;
- and
- a fourth wing configured to be rotationally coupled to the deployment mechanism and rotationally coupled to the third wing;
- wherein:
- the wing arrangement has a stowed position, in which:
- the deployment mechanism is in the first position;
- the first and third wings are stacked on the second side of the fuselage;
- and
- the second and fourth wings are stacked on the first side of the fuselage;
- and
- movement of the deployment mechanism from the first position to the second position causes the first and second coupled wings and the third and fourth coupled wings to deploy to a first winged position.
A wing arrangement for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a carriage configured to be attached to a fuselage and move from a first position to a second position;
- a pair of wing assemblies having a stowed position and deployed position, each wing assembly in the deployed position comprising:
- a forward wing configured to be pivotally coupled to the fuselage and arranged on a first side of the fuselage;
- an aft wing configured to be pivotally coupled to the carriage and arranged on a second side of the fuselage substantially opposite the first side;
- and
- a connector pivotally connecting an outboard end of the forward wing and an outboard end of the aft wing;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the fuselage and configured to move the carriage from the first position to the second position whereby movement of the carriage to the second position causes the forward wing and the aft wing of each pair of wing assemblies to deploy from the stowed position to the deployed position.
An aerial vehicle having a folding wing arrangement, comprising:
- a fuselage defining a first side and a second side substantially opposite each other;
- a carriage connected to the fuselage on the first side and configured to move from a first position to a second position;
- a pair of wing assemblies having a stowed position and a deployed position, each wing assembly in the deployed position comprising:
- a first wing pivotally connected to the fuselage on the second side;
- and
- a second wing pivotally connected to the carriage and pivotally connected to the first wing;
- and
- an actuator connected to the fuselage and configured to translate the carriage from the first position to the second position whereby movement of the carriage to the second position causes the first wing and the second wing of each pair of wing assemblies to deploy from the stowed position to the deployed position.
A wing arrangement for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a deployment mechanism configured to attach to a first side of a fuselage and configured to move from a first position to a second position;
- a first wing configured to be rotationally coupled to a second side of the fuselage;
- a second wing configured to be rotationally coupled to the deployment mechanism and rotationally coupled to the first wing;
- a third wing configured to be rotationally coupled to the second side of the fuselage;
- and
- a fourth wing configured to be rotationally coupled to the deployment mechanism and rotationally coupled to the third wing;
- a fifth wing configured to be telescopingly stowed substantially inside the first wing;
- a sixth wing configured to be telescopingly stowed substantially inside the second wing;
- a seventh wing configured to be telescopingly stowed substantially inside the third wing;
- and
- an eighth wing configured to be telescopingly stowed substantially inside the fourth wing;
- wherein:
- the first and fifth wings are rotationally coupled to the second and sixth wings and the third and seventh wings are rotationally coupled to the fourth and eighth wings;
- movement of the deployment mechanism from the first position to the second position causes the first and second coupled wings and the third and fourth coupled wings to deploy to a first winged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.