IP Library Granted Patent US 10,059,436
Granted Patent B1
US 10,059,436 · App. 15/783,898 · Granted Aug 28, 2018

Sealed float with batteries

Inventors: Cameron Robertson (San Mateo, CA); Todd Reichert (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
B64C25/54B64C25/36B64C27/08B64D17/80B64D27/24B64C31/028B64C2025/325
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,059,436
App. No.
15/783,898
Granted
Aug 28, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

A float has a front-to-back length, a width, and a height where the front-to-back length of the float is strictly greater than the height of the float which in turn is strictly greater than the width of the float. At least a bottom portion of the float is watertight. The float includes an access panel to access the inside of the float. A battery is inside the float and is accessible via the access panel.

Claims (42)

1. A system, comprising:

a float which has a front-to-back length, a width, and a height, wherein:

the float is included in an aircraft;

the front-to-back length of the float is strictly greater than the height of the float which in turn is strictly greater than the width of the float;

at least a bottom portion of the float is watertight;

the float includes an access panel to access the inside of the float;

the float includes a removable and interchangeable float bottom adapted for at least one of: water and land, the land float bottom including a wheel; and

a battery, wherein the battery is inside the float and is accessible via the access panel.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the aircraft includes a plurality of rotors which are attached to the aircraft at a fixed roll angle and a fixed pitch angle.

3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the aircraft includes a plurality of rotors which are attached to the aircraft at a fixed roll angle and a fixed pitch angle; and

the plurality of rotors include:

a right inner front rotor which is configured to rotate in a first direction;

a right outer front rotor which is configured to rotate in the first direction;

a right inner middle rotor which is configured to rotate in a second direction;

a right outer back rotor which is configured to rotate in the second direction;

a right inner back rotor which is configured to rotate in the first direction;

a left inner back rotor which is configured to rotate in the second direction;

a left outer back rotor which is configured to rotate in the first direction;

a left inner middle rotor which is configured to rotate in the first direction;

a left outer front rotor which is configured to rotate in the second direction; and

a left inner front rotor which is configured to rotate in the second direction.

4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the aircraft includes a plurality of rotors which are attached to the aircraft at a fixed roll angle and a fixed pitch angle;

the plurality of rotors include:

a right outer front rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a negative roll angle and a negative pitch angle;

a right inner middle rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a negative roll angle and a negative pitch angle;

a right outer back rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a negative roll angle and a negative pitch angle;

a right inner back rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a negative roll angle and a negative pitch angle;

a left inner back rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a positive roll angle and a negative pitch angle;

a left outer back rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a positive roll angle and a negative pitch angle;

a left inner middle rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a positive roll angle and a negative pitch angle; and

a left outer front rotor which is attached to the aircraft at a positive roll angle and a negative pitch angle; and

the plurality of rotors are attached to the aircraft at roll angles and pitch angles with magnitudes in the range of 0 degrees and 10 degrees.

5. The system recited in claim 1 further including at least one of a gore vent and a drain.

6. The system recited in claim 1 further including a heat sink, wherein a view of the heat sink is at least partially obstructed by a blocking object when viewed from above.

7. The system recited in claim 1 further including a heat sink, wherein a view of the heat sink is at least partially obstructed by a blocking object when viewed from above, wherein the blocking object includes one or more of the following: a boom or a rotor.

8. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the float further includes a sidewall with sandwich-structure composite.

9. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the aircraft further includes a parachute and a fuselage, where the parachute is attached to an anchor point in a back half of the fuselage; and

the float includes energy absorbing material inside the float at a front portion.

10. The system recited in claim 1 further including a crush structure inside the float which supports the battery.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2023
From: ONE AERO, LLC
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063713/0367 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2022
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 059503/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2021
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 058029/0610 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 054206/0714 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2018
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 047739/0947 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2018
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 047308/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2017
From: ROBERTSON, CAMERON; REICHERT, TODD
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044441/0638 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation In Part 15649293 · Jul 13, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,552,531