Folding wing aircraft
View Patent ↗A folding wing aircraft having a deployed position and a stowed position comprises a fuselage having a front and a back, and a top and a bottom, a first top wing and a second top wing, wherein the first top wing and the second top wing are pivotable about a top pivot pin, wherein the top pivot pin is positioned on the top of the fuselage. The folding wing aircraft also has a first bottom wing and a second bottom wing, wherein the first bottom wing and the second bottom wing are pivotable about a bottom pivot pin, wherein the bottom pivot pin is affixed to the bottom of the fuselage. A distance between the top pivot pin and the bottom pivot pin is fixed during movement from the stowed position to the deployed position.
1 . A folding wing aircraft having a deployed position and a stowed position, comprising, in combination:
a fuselage having a front and a back, and a top and a bottom;
a first top wing and a second top wing, wherein the first top wing and the second top wing are pivotable about a top pivot pin, wherein the top pivot pin is positioned on the top of the fuselage;
a first bottom wing and a second bottom wing, wherein the first bottom wing and the second bottom wing are pivotable about a bottom pivot pin, wherein the bottom pivot pin is affixed to the bottom of the fuselage; and
a coupler releasably connecting the first top wing to the first bottom wing, wherein the coupler comprises a rudder, a stabilizer mounted on each one of the bottom wings, and a wing locking pin extending from the stabilizer and engaging a channel formed adjacent each corresponding top wing;
wherein a distance between the top pivot pin and the bottom pivot pin is fixed during movement from the stowed position to the deployed position.
2 . The folding wing aircraft of claim 1 wherein the rudder and the stabilizer are positioned adjacent the back of the fuselage when in the stowed position.
3 . The folding wing aircraft of claim 1 wherein each bottom wing defines a cutout portion generally adjacent the corresponding stabilizer.
4 . The folding wing aircraft of claim 1 further comprising a receiving plate affixed to each of the top wings and defining the corresponding channel, wherein each wing locking pin is adapted to be received by the corresponding channel.
5 . The folding wing aircraft of claim 4 further comprising a wing tip bracket affixed to each of the top wings, wherein each wing tip bracket has a surface flush with the corresponding top wing, and each wing tip bracket defines a pocket adapted to receive a head of the corresponding wing locking pin.
6 . The folding wing aircraft of claim 1 wherein the top and the bottom of the fuselage are smooth in an area between the top pivot pin the bottom pivot pin.