IP Library Granted Patent US 10,988,249
Granted Patent B1
US 10,988,249 · App. 17/066,956 · Granted Apr 27, 2021

Tilting mechanism with telescoping actuator

Inventors: Pranay Sinha (Sunnyvale, CA); Damon Vander Lind (Alameda, CA)
Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
B64C29/0033B64C13/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,988,249
App. No.
17/066,956
Granted
Apr 27, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A tiltrotor has a range of motion between a forward flight position and a hovering position, where a pylon and the tiltrotor are coupled via a telescoping actuator, a rigid bottom bar, and a fixed hinge that is attached between the rigid bottom bar and the tiltrotor. The tiltrotor moves from the forward flight position to the hovering position includes extending the telescoping actuator so that the tilt rotor rotates about the fixed hinge.

Claims (32)

1. A system, comprising:

a pylon; and

a tiltrotor that has a range of motion between a forward flight position and a hovering position, wherein:

the pylon and the tiltrotor are coupled via a telescoping actuator, a rigid bottom bar, and a fixed hinge that is attached between the rigid bottom bar and the tiltrotor;

moving the tiltrotor from the forward flight position to the hovering position includes extending the telescoping actuator so that the tilt rotor rotates about the fixed hinge;

the tiltrotor includes one or more propeller blades; and

there is a lateral distance in a range of 0.5-1 ft., inclusive, between a plane associated with the one or more propeller blades when the tiltrotor is in the forward flight position and an axis of rotation of the propeller blades when the tiltrotor is in the hovering position.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the system is included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.

3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the pylon is coupled to a trailing edge of a forward-swept main wing.

4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the pylon is coupled to a canard.

5. The system recited in claim 1 , further including a telescoping top bar, wherein moving the tiltrotor from the forward flight position to the hovering position includes extending the telescoping top bar.

6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the fixed hinge is coupled to the tiltrotor via a bar that is coupled to a surface of the tiltrotor.

7. The system recited in claim 1 , further including a drag chain cable carrier that encloses a cable coupled to the tiltrotor.

8. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the telescoping actuator includes a passive actuator.

9. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the telescoping actuator includes a passive actuator, including one or more of the following: a compressed spring or pneumatic piston.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a pylon; and

providing a tiltrotor that has a range of motion between a forward flight position and a hovering position, wherein:

the pylon and the tiltrotor are coupled via a telescoping actuator, a rigid bottom bar, and a fixed hinge that is attached between the rigid bottom bar and the tiltrotor;

moving the tiltrotor from the forward flight position to the hovering position includes extending the telescoping actuator so that the tilt rotor rotates about the fixed hinge;

the tiltrotor includes one or more propeller blades; and

there is a lateral distance in a range of 0.5-1 ft., inclusive, between a plane associated with the one or more propeller blades when the tiltrotor is in the forward flight position and an axis of rotation of the propeller blades when the tiltrotor is in the hovering position.

11. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the pylon and the tiltrotor are included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.

12. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the pylon is coupled to a trailing edge of a forward-swept main wing.

13. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the pylon is coupled to a canard.

14. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:

the pylon and the tiltrotor are included a vehicle that further includes a telescoping top bar; and

moving the tiltrotor from the forward flight position to the hovering position includes extending the telescoping top bar.

15. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the fixed hinge is coupled to the tiltrotor via a bar that is coupled to a surface of the tiltrotor.

16. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the pylon and the tiltrotor are included a vehicle that further includes a drag chain cable carrier that encloses a cable coupled to the tiltrotor.

17. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the telescoping actuator includes a passive actuator.

18. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the telescoping actuator includes a passive actuator, including one or more of the following: a compressed spring or pneumatic piston.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: SINHA, PRANAY; VANDER LIND, DAMON
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055046/0370 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62912872 · Oct 9, 2019
Cited By (4)
US 12,263,942 US 12,420,922 US 12,479,570 US 12,715,626