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US 9,284,962 B2Granted
Variable geometry lift fan mechanism
AssigneeZee.Aero Inc.
InventorsGeoffrey A. Long, Rodin Lyasoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft includes rotors that provide vertical and horizontal thrust. During forward motion, the vertical lift system is inactive. A lift fan mechanism positions the fan blades of the aircraft in a collapsed configuration when the vertical lift system is inactive and positions the fan blades of the aircraft in a deployed configuration when the vertical lift system is active.
Claims21
A lift fan mechanism comprising:
- a first blade set comprising one or more fan blades, driven to rotate about an axis;
- one or more additional blade sets each comprising one or more fan blades that are constrained to rotate about the axis of the first blade set, the one or more additional blade sets rotating independently from the first blade set below a threshold speed and the one or more additional blade sets rotating in conjunction with the first blade set above the threshold speed;
- a plurality of mechanical stops that restrict a relative rotation between the first blade set and the one or more additional blade sets between a first position and a second position of the first blade set and the one or more additional blade sets, wherein the lift fan mechanism is in a collapsed configuration in the first position and the lift fan mechanism is in a deployed configuration to provide thrust in the second position;
- a drive motor coupled to the first blade set, the drive motor configured to apply torque to the first blade set that is required to rotate the first blade set and the one or more additional blades sets to a speed that is required for an aircraft to achieve vertical flight, wherein the first blade set moves the one or more additional blade sets from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration responsive to the first blade set exceeding the threshold speed as the first blade set increases in speed until the required speed for the aircraft to achieve vertical flight is achieved.
1 more element
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft comprising:
- a plurality of lift fan mechanisms, each lift fan mechanism including:
- a first blade set comprising one or more fan blades driven to rotate about an axis;
- one or more additional blade sets each comprising one or more fan blades that are constrained to rotate about the axis of the first blade set, the one or more additional blade sets rotating independently from the first blade set below a threshold speed and the one or more additional blade sets rotating in conjunction with the first blade set above the threshold speed;
- a plurality of mechanical stops that restrict a relative rotation between the first blade set and the one or more additional blade sets between a first position and a second position of the first fan and the one or more additional blade sets, wherein the lift fan mechanism is in a collapsed configuration in the first position and the lift fan mechanism is in a deployed configuration to provide thrust in the second position;
- a drive motor coupled to the first blade set, the drive motor configured to apply torque to the first blade set that is required to rotate the first blade set and the one or more additional blades sets to a speed that is required for an aircraft to achieve vertical flight, wherein the first blade set moves the one or more additional blade sets from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration responsive to the first blade set exceeding the threshold speed as the first blade set increases in speed until the required speed for the aircraft to achieve vertical flight is achieved.
2 more elements
A lift fan mechanism comprising:
- a first blade set comprising one or more fan blades, driven to rotate about an axis;
- one or more additional blade sets each comprising one or more fan blades that are constrained to rotate about the axis of the first blade set, the one or more additional blade sets rotating independently from the first blade set;
- a plurality of mechanical stops that restrict a relative rotation between the first blade set and the one or more additional blade sets between a first position and a second position of the first blade set and the one or more additional blade sets, wherein the lift fan mechanism is in a collapsed configuration in the first position and the lift fan mechanism is in a deployed configuration to provide thrust in the second position;
- a drive motor coupled to the first blade set, the drive motor configured to apply torque to the first blade set that is required to rotate the first blade set and the one or more additional blades sets to a speed that is required for an aircraft to achieve vertical flight, wherein the first blade set moves the one or more additional blade sets from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration responsive to the first blade set exceeding a threshold acceleration as the first blade set increases in speed until the required speed for the aircraft to achieve vertical flight is achieved.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.