IP Library Granted Patent US 12,122,541
Granted Patent B2
US 12,122,541 · App. 17/709,883 · Granted Oct 22, 2024

Unmanned flying device

Inventors: Jonathan R. Meringer (Rockport, MA); Nathaniel R. Meringer (Rockport, MA)
Assignee: Ascent Aerosystems Inc.
B64U30/293B64C27/006B64C27/50B64U10/13B64U30/24B64U70/10B64U2101/31B64U2201/10B64U2201/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,122,541
App. No.
17/709,883
Granted
Oct 22, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An unmanned flying device including a body; a first blade and at least a second blade; a coupling assembly for coupling the first blade and the at least second blade to the body, wherein the coupling assembly urges the collapsing of the first blade and the at least second blade towards the body; and wherein both the first blade and the at least second blade are rotatable about the body, and wherein the first blade and the at least second blade are deployable away from the body via rotation of the first and the at least second blades about the body.

Claims (22)

1. An unmanned flying device comprising:

a body;

a first motor;

a top rotor assembly driven by the first motor;

at least first and second blades coupled to the top rotor assembly;

a second motor;

at least a bottom rotor assembly driven by the second motor;

at least third and fourth blades coupled to the bottom rotor assembly;

a central shaft;

wherein the top and bottom rotor assemblies are mounted on the central shaft;

wherein the at least third and fourth blades are coupled to a single rotor bracket that is coupled to the bottom rotor assembly through a respective pitch hinge;

a swashplate connected via linkages to the single rotor bracket to make the pitch of said at least third and fourth blades change in response to an induced angle of the swashplate as it rotates around the central shaft; and

a plurality of servo motors for changing the angle of the swashplate;

wherein when the first and second blades are oriented above the third and fourth blades, (i) the top rotor assembly is positioned above the first motor, (ii) the second motor is positioned above the bottom rotor assembly, (iii) the bottom rotor assembly is positioned above the swashplate, and (iv) the swashplate is positioned above the plurality of servo motors;

wherein controlled flight of the device is achieved by changing the pitch of the single rotor bracket that transmits the motion to the at least third and fourth blades; and

wherein the pitch of the at least first and second blades are not actively controlled.

2. The unmanned flying device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein there are two servo motors for changing the angle of the swashplate.

3. The unmanned flying device as claimed in claim 2 , including a spherical bearing for swashplate pivoting.

4. The unmanned flying device as claimed in claim 1 , including a spherical bearing for swashplate pivoting.

5. The unmanned flying device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second blades are free to flap around a hinge essentially parallel to the plane of rotation in response to centrifugal and aerodynamic forces.

6. The unmanned flying device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first and second blades are coupled to a rotor bracket through a respective single hinge essentially parallel to the plane of rotation of the first rotor.

7. The unmanned flying device as claimed in claim 6 , comprising a first arm coupling the first blade to the rotor bracket and comprising a second arm coupling the second blade to the rotor bracket.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2025
From: WHITEHORSE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 069971/0827 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2025
From: CADENCE BANK
To: ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 069972/0040 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 17, 2025
From: ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069936/0777 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2025
From: ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS INC.
To: CADENCE BANK
Reel/Frame 069759/0225 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2024
From: ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS INC.
To: WHITEHORSE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067897/0262 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2022
From: MERINGER, JONATHAN R.; MERINGER, NATHANIEL R.
To: ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 059458/0822 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16151637 · Oct 4, 2018
Continuation 14936822 · Nov 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62077783 · Nov 10, 2014
Related Publication 20220219820A1 · Jul 14, 2022