IP Library Granted Patent US 11,697,494
Granted Patent B2
US 11,697,494 · App. 16/722,482 · Granted Jul 11, 2023

Aircraft

Inventors: Ulrich Schaferlein (Stuttgart, DE); Manuel Kessler (Kirchheim, DE)
Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
B64C29/0025B64C5/02B64C5/06B64C5/10B64C9/00B64C13/04B64C27/08B64D27/24B64D41/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,697,494
App. No.
16/722,482
Granted
Jul 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft in the form of an electrically driven, vertical take-off and landing, preferably people-carrying and/or load-carrying multicopter ( 1 ) is provided, in which a multiplicity of rotors are arranged in a common rotor plane (R), in which a tail unit ( 6 ), protruding upward or downward with respect to the rotor plane (R), is provided above or below the rotor plane (R), preferably in a rear region of the aircraft ( 1 ) with respect to a forward flying direction.

Claims (14)

1. An aircraft ( 1 ) comprising:

an electrically driven, vertical take-off and landing, multicopter, including a multiplicity of rotors ( 2 . 1 - 2 . 9 ) arranged in a substantially common rotor plane (R),

a tail unit ( 6 ), protruding downward with respect to the rotor plane (R) and located below the rotor plane (R), in a rear region of the aircraft ( 1 ) with respect to a forward flying direction (FR), and

the tail unit ( 6 ) comprises two vertical stabilizers ( 6 . 1 , 6 . 2 ) that extend downward from support arms ( 3 . 1 , 3 . 2 ) that each support at least one of the rotors, a tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) connected between the two vertical stabilizers ( 6 . 1 , 6 . 2 ), and the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) is located below the support arms.

2. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) is configured to counteract a pitching-up tilting moment (M aero ) that is brought about by a blocked surface, generated by the rotors ( 2 . 1 - 2 . 9 ) in the rotor plane (R), during flying operation.

3. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least two of the multiplicity of rotors ( 2 . 1 to 2 . 9 ) have an incline (α) with respect to the rotor plane (R).

4. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tail unit ( 6 ) is at least partly adjustable.

5. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the tailplane has flaps and a fixed tail unit profile that is rigid, and a number of the flaps are provided behind the fixed tail unit profile in the flying direction, said flaps being configured to deflect outflowing air depending on their position.

6. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a motor ( 6 . 5 ) configured to adjust at least one of the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) or the flaps during the flight.

7. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 6 , wherein at least one of the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) or the flaps are mounted so as to be able to pivot about an axis ( 6 . 4 ) parallel to the rotor plane (R).

8. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) is mounted so as to be adjustable on the vertical stabilizers ( 6 . 1 , 6 . 2 ).

9. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein at least one of the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) or the flaps are adjustable depending on at least one of a flying direction (FR) or flying speed of the aircraft ( 1 ).

10. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a flight control unit ( 6 . 6 ) configured for adjustment of the tailplane ( 6 . 3 ) or the flaps in accordance with a pilot command.

11. The aircraft ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the tail unit ( 6 ) is attached to at least one support arm ( 3 . 1 , 3 . 2 ), supporting the rotors ( 2 . 1 - 2 . 9 ), of the aircraft ( 1 ), via the vertical stabilizers ( 6 . 1 , 6 . 2 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: VOLOCOPTER GMBH
To: VOLOCOPTER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 072310/0183 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2019
From: SCHAFERLEIN, ULRICH; KESSLER, MANUEL
To: VOLOCOPTER GMBH
Reel/Frame 051344/0480 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102018133171.1 · Dec 20, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200398981A1 · Dec 24, 2020