公开(公告)号：US20230415886A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-28

申请号：US18244785

申请日：2023-09-11

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C13/48 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B60L53/00 ,  B60L50/64 ,  B64C27/82 ,  B64D27/02 ,  B64D31/06

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64D2027/026 ,  B64C13/48 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B60L53/00 ,  B60L50/64 ,  B64C27/82 ,  B64D27/02 ,  B64D31/06 ,  B64D2027/264 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B64C2027/8209 ,  G05D1/101

Abstract: During a cruise mode, a cruise-only propeller provides thrust using power from a first power source. During a hovering mode and a transitional mode, the propeller provides no thrust. The first power source includes an internal combustion engine; a second power source includes a high discharge rate battery and a high energy battery. The propeller is electrically connected to the first power source and is electrically disconnected from the second power source. During the hovering mode and the transitional mode, a hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor provides thrust using power from the second power source. During a vertical landing, the tiltrotor switches power sources from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery, independent of current draw. The tiltrotor is electrically disconnected from the first power source and is electrically connected to the second power source. During the cruise mode, the tiltrotor provides no thrust.

公开(公告)号：US11738863B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-29

申请号：US17186928

申请日：2021-02-26

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C5/02

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C39/12

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.

公开(公告)号：US11639219B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-02

申请号：US17569713

申请日：2022-01-06

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Campbell McLaren ,  Pranay Sinha

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64D29/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D33/08

Abstract: A pylon portion includes a first surface that attaches to an upper surface of a spar in a wing, where the pylon portion and a rotor portion protrude aft of the wing. A second surface attaches to a lower surface of the spar in the wing. The pylon portion also includes an intake air vent; a horizontal mounting surface; a rotor controller that is coupled to the horizontal mounting surface; and a heat sink that couples to the horizontal mounting surface and dissipates heat from at least the rotor controller. The rotor portion is moveably coupled to the pylon portion such that one or more rotor blades included in the rotor portion are able to move between: (1) a first position below the wing that is associated with a vertical flight mode and (2) a second position aft of the wing that is associated with a forward flight mode.

公开(公告)号：US20210339854A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-04

申请号：US17362683

申请日：2021-06-29

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C13/48 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B60L53/00 ,  B60L50/64 ,  B64C27/82 ,  B64D27/02 ,  B64D31/06

Abstract: A system includes an inboard tiltrotor subsystem and an outboard tiltrotor subsystem. The inboard tiltrotor subsystem includes an inboard pylon, an inboard tiltrotor, and a single and non-redundant drivetrain. The outboard tiltrotor subsystem includes an outboard pylon that is coupled to a wing and an outboard tiltrotor. The outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion and is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing. The outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a redundant drivetrain (which has a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers) that drives one or more blades and the one or more blades.

公开(公告)号：US10981648B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US16530782

申请日：2019-08-02

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64C39/12

Abstract: An aircraft includes a canard having a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a horizontal plane and a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotors. At least one of the plurality of tilt rotors is attached to the trailing edge of the canard and at least one of the plurality of tilt rotors is attached to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing. The aircraft also includes a T-tail having a horizontal plane, where the horizontal plane of the T-tail is at a height that is higher than the horizontal plane of the forward swept and fixed wing.

公开(公告)号：US20210107641A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-15

申请号：US17066058

申请日：2020-10-08

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  G05D1/10

Abstract: A short takeoff and landing (STOL) vehicle which comprises a tail having a surface and a fuselage having a surface, where the tail and the fuselage have a continuity of surfaces where the surface of the tail is directly coupled to the surface of the fuselage. The vehicle further includes a forward-swept wing having a trailing edge and a rotor that is attached to the trailing edge of the forward-swept wing via a pylon, where the rotor has a maximum downward angle from horizontal that is less than or equal to 60° and the STOL vehicle takes off and lands using at least some lift from the forward-swept wing and at least some lift from the rotor.

公开(公告)号：US20220126997A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-28

申请号：US17569713

申请日：2022-01-06

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Campbell McLaren ,  Pranay Sinha

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64D29/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D33/08

Abstract: A pylon portion includes a first surface that attaches to an upper surface of a spar in a wing, where the pylon portion and a rotor portion protrude aft of the wing. A second surface attaches to a lower surface of the spar in the wing. The pylon portion also includes an intake air vent; a horizontal mounting surface; a rotor controller that is coupled to the horizontal mounting surface; and a heat sink that couples to the horizontal mounting surface and dissipates heat from at least the rotor controller. The rotor portion is moveably coupled to the pylon portion such that one or more rotor blades included in the rotor portion are able to move between: (1) a first position below the wing that is associated with a vertical flight mode and (2) a second position aft of the wing that is associated with a forward flight mode.

公开(公告)号：US11247773B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-15

申请号：US16899991

申请日：2020-06-12

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Campbell McLaren ,  Pranay Sinha

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64D29/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D33/08

Abstract: A tilt rotor system, comprising: a pylon portion that includes: an upper protrusion that is configured to be in contact with an upper surface of a wing and a lower protrusion that is configured to be in contact with a lower surface of the wing; and a rotor portion that includes a rotor, wherein the rotor portion is able to move between: (1) a first position that is associated with a vertical flight mode and (2) a second position that is associated with a forward flight mode. The pylon portion further includes an air intake vent, a horizontal surface, a rotor controller, and a heat sink.

公开(公告)号：US20220017219A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-20

申请号：US17186928

申请日：2021-02-26

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64C39/12

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.

公开(公告)号：US20210300541A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-30

申请号：US17211225

申请日：2021-03-24

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Pranay Sinha ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C13/48 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B60L53/00 ,  B60L50/64 ,  B64C27/82 ,  B64D27/02 ,  B64D31/06

Abstract: A tiltrotor has a range of motion between a forward flight position and a hovering position, where a pylon and the tiltrotor are coupled via a telescoping actuator, a rigid bottom bar, and a fixed hinge that is attached between the rigid bottom bar and the tiltrotor. The tiltrotor moves from the forward flight position to the hovering position includes extending the telescoping actuator so that the tilt rotor rotates about the fixed hinge.