IP Library Granted Patent US 12,172,765
Granted Patent B2
US 12,172,765 · App. 18/301,431 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Dissassembly for dual engine vertical take off and landing collapsible fixed wing aircraft

Inventors: Dane Michael Chantrill (Irvine, CA); Gregory Joseph Toland (Escondido, CA)
Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.
B64D29/02B23P19/04B64C1/063B64C3/56B64C29/00B64C29/02B64F5/10B64F5/50B64U80/50B64U20/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,172,765
App. No.
18/301,431
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present application discloses an aircraft. The present application discloses a method of assembling or disassembling an aircraft. The assembly method includes mounting a first engine nacelle to a first wing, mounting a second engine nacelle to a second wing, causing the first wing to be extended relative to a fuselage mount, causing the second wing to be extended relative to the fuselage mount, and mounting the fuselage to the fuselage mount.

Claims (23)

1. A method of disassembling an aircraft, comprising:

securing the aircraft to a cart;

causing a first wing to be folded relative to a fuselage mount or a center wing;

causing a second wing to be folded relative to the fuselage mount or the center wing;

dismounting a first engine nacelle from a distal end of the first wing and securing the first engine nacelle on the cart in a space at least partially defined by the folded first wing, the folded second wing, and the fuselage mount or the center wing; and

dismounting a second engine nacelle from a distal end of the second wing and securing the second engine nacelle on the cart in the space, wherein the distal ends of the first and second wings are an end opposite the fuselage mount or the center wing; and wherein causing the first wing to be folded relative to the fuselage mount or the center wing comprises rotating the first wing around an axis defined by a first hinge that mounts the first wing to the fuselage mount or the center wing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein dismounting the first engine nacelle from the first wing includes unbolting the first engine nacelle from the first wing.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein dismounting the first engine nacelle from the first wing includes securing the first engine nacelle to the cart.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detaching proprotor blades from the first engine nacelle and/or the second engine nacelle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the first wing to be folded relative to the fuselage mount or the center wing comprises undoing a fixed mounting.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein undoing the fixed mounting includes unbolting the first wing from the center wing or the fuselage mount.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving a fuselage from an assembled state to a disassembled state.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the fuselage from the assembled state to the disassembled state includes securing the fuselage to the cart.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the fuselage from the assembled state to the disassembled state includes uncoupling the fuselage from the fuselage mount or the center wing.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the fuselage from the assembled state to the disassembled state comprises pivoting the fuselage using a hinge.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein dismounting the first engine nacelle from the first wing includes moving a first nacelle support structure to a disassembled position from an assembled position.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein moving to the disassembled position from the assembled position includes removing a first nacelle support member of the first wing from a cavity of the first engine nacelle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein removing the first nacelle support member of the first wing from the cavity of the first engine nacelle comprises unbolting the first nacelle support member of the first wing from the first engine nacelle.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the aircraft to the cart prior to causing the first wing to be folded.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein securing the aircraft to the cart comprises coupling the aircraft to a support member of the cart using one or more of the following: a clamp mechanism, a bolt, a pin, a hook, a tether, a strap, a rope, and a cable.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein securing the aircraft to the cart comprises raising the aircraft.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising retracting a first landing module and/or a second landing module after raising the aircraft.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising decoupling a winglet from a first engine nacelle and/or a second engine nacelle after raising the aircraft.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068526/0728 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: CHANTRILL, DANE MICHAEL; TOLAND, GREGORY JOSEPH
To: ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064137/0023 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63444080 · Feb 8, 2023
Related Publication 20240262530A1 · Aug 8, 2024
Cited By (3)
US 12,358,634 US 12,570,400 US 12,583,599