IP Library Granted Patent US 11,738,863
Granted Patent B2
US 11,738,863 · App. 17/186,928 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Fixed wing aircraft with trailing rotors and T-tail

Inventors: Pranay Sinha (Sunnyvale, CA); Damon Vander Lind (Alameda, CA)
Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
B64C29/0033B64C5/02B64C11/46B64C39/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,738,863
App. No.
17/186,928
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules includes a first tilt rotor submodule where the leading edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 40% to 60%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule where 0% corresponds to a forward tip of the first tilt rotor submodule and 100% corresponds to an aft tip of the first tilt rotor submodule. The trailing edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 55% to 80%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules also includes a second tilt rotor submodule that is coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Claims (33)

1. An aircraft, comprising:

a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge;

a plurality of tilt rotor submodules, including:

a first tilt rotor submodule, wherein:

the leading edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at a position that is within a range of 40% to 60%, inclusive, of a length of the first tilt rotor submodule where 0% corresponds to a forward tip of the first tilt rotor submodule and 100% corresponds to an aft tip of the first tilt rotor submodule; and

the trailing edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 55% to 80%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule; and

a plurality of other tilt rotor submodules that are coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing; and

a dovetail attached to an underside of a fuselage, wherein the dovetail pushes a nose of the aircraft down during a deep stall, wherein the fuselage rests on the dovetail when the aircraft is on the ground, and wherein the forward swept and fixed wing includes a corresponding curved section for each of the plurality of other tilt rotor submodules that is parallel to a curve of propeller disks associated with the plurality of other tilt rotor submodules when the plurality of other tilt rotor submodules are in a hovering position.

2. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein a horizontal plane of the forward swept and fixed wing is at a height that is higher than a horizontal plane of the canard.

3. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tilt rotor submodules includes two tilt rotor submodules that are coupled to the canard and six tilt rotor submodules that are coupled to the forward swept and fixed wing.

4. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein the forward swept and fixed wing has a relative lifting force within a second range of 80% to 100%, inclusive, during a cruise mode.

5. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein an inboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing has a twist angle within a second range of −5° to 0°, inclusive.

6. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein a middle section of the forward swept and fixed wing has a twist angle within a second range of 0° to 5°, inclusive.

7. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein an outboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing has a twist angle within a second range of −5° to 0°, inclusive.

8. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein an outboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing stalls after the canard.

9. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein an outboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing stalls after the rest of the forward swept and fixed wing.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

providing a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge; and

providing a plurality of tilt rotor submodules, including:

a first tilt rotor submodule, wherein:

the leading edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at a position that is within a range of 40% to 60%, inclusive, of a length of the first tilt rotor submodule where 0% corresponds to a forward tip of the first tilt rotor submodule and 100% corresponds to an aft tip of the first tilt rotor submodule; and

the trailing edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 55% to 80%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule; and

providing a dovetail attached to an underside of a fuselage, wherein the dovetail pushes a nose of an aircraft down during a deep stall, wherein the fuselage rests on the dovetail when the aircraft is on the ground, and wherein a plurality of other tilt rotor submodules that are coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing, wherein the forward swept and fixed wing includes a corresponding curved section for each of the plurality of other tilt rotor submodules that is parallel to a curve of propeller disks associated with the plurality of other tilt rotor submodules when the plurality of other tilt rotor submodules are in a hovering position.

11. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein a horizontal plane of the forward swept and fixed wing is at a height that is higher than a horizontal plane of the canard.

12. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tilt rotor submodules includes two tilt rotor submodules that are coupled to the canard and six tilt rotor submodules that are coupled to the forward swept and fixed wing.

13. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the forward swept and fixed wing has a relative lifting force within a second range of 80% to 100%, inclusive, during a cruise mode.

14. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein an inboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing has a twist angle within a second range of −5° to 0°, inclusive.

15. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein a middle section of the forward swept and fixed wing has a twist angle within a second range of 0° to 5°, inclusive.

16. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein an outboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing has a twist angle within a second range of −5° to 0°, inclusive.

17. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein an outboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing stalls after the canard.

18. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein an outboard section of the forward swept and fixed wing stalls after the rest of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Assignments (3)
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 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16530782 · Aug 2, 2019
Related Publication 20220017219A1 · Jan 20, 2022