US3559926A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vtol aircraft
Assignee: Dornier GmbH
•
Filing: 1969-05-09
•
Granted: 1971-02-02
•
Expires: 1989-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A VTOL aircraft has at least one engine supported on each side of the longitudinal central axis of the aircraft, each of these engines being supported for pivotal movement about an axis extending obliquely downwardly and away from the fuselage so that the engine means pivots from a normal operating position to a takeoff and landing position wherein the air intake of the engine means is disposed a greater distance from the longitudinal central plane of the aircraft and at a greater vertical elevation. Jet discharge means on each of the engine means includes movable parts which move so that in the takeoff and landing position of the engines the jet discharge is directed downwardly in a substantially vertical direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Fruehauf
- 👤 Heinz Guenter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:22
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K1/00; F02K1/002; F02K1/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A VTOL aircraft including a plurality of engine means, at least one of said engine means being mounted on each side of the longitudinal central plane of the aircraft, each of said engine means including air intake means and jet discharge means having a jet outlet, each of said engine means being movably mounted on a pivot structure whose axis extends downwardly and outwardly from the aircraft and means for moving each of said engine means from a normal operating position to a takeoff and landing position wherein said air intake means is mounted a greater distance from said plane than in the normal operating position and further wherein said outlet is directed in a substantially vertical direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A VTOL aircraft including a plurality of engine means, at least one of said engine means being mounted on each side of the longitudinal central plane of the aircraft, each of said engine means including air intake means and jet discharge means having a jet outlet, each of said engine means being movably mounted on a pivot structure whose axis extends downwardly and outwardly from the aircraft and means for moving each of said engine means from a normal operating position to a takeoff and landing position wherein said air intake means is mounted a greater distance from said plane than in the normal operating position and further wherein said outlet is directed in a substantially vertical direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein said air intake means in the takeoff and landing position of the engine means is also mounted at a greater vertical elevation than in the normal operating position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein each of said engine means is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, the pivot axis, the pivot axes of said engine means lying in a common plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said common plane extends at substantially right angle to said longitudinal central plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said pivot axes extends obliquely downwardly and outwardly of the aircraft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said pivot axes is positioned adjacent to the pitch axis of the aircraft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein the outlet of said discharge means in the takeoff and landing position of the engines are directed in directions substantially parallel to one another and parallel with said longitudinal central plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
ApparaTus as defined in claim 7 wherein the outlets in said takeoff and landing position have the axes thereof positioned in a common plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the center of gravity of the aircraft lies substantially in said common plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein the axis of the outlet of each of said discharge means in the takeoff and landing position defines an angle of greater than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of the associated engine means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein said jet discharge means includes a plurality of portions, some of said portions being relatively movable with respect to one another, and means to cause relative movement of said portions with respect to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim ll wherein the operation of the means to cause relative movement of the portions of the jet discharge means is correlated to the operation of the means for moving said engine means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim ll wherein said movable portions of the jet discharge means are mounted for rotation with respect to one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l3 wherein said movable portions are of tapered configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l4 wherein said movable portions have complementary adjacent beveled surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim ll wherein said means for causing relative movement of the movable portions of the jet discharge means includes rack means on said movable portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l6 including drive means drivingly interconnected with one of the said racks or driving one of said movable portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l6 including a driving connection between the racks of different ones of said movable portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l8 wherein said driving connection is a universal driving connection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim l including support means for supporting each of said engine means, fairing means adjacent said support means, said fairing means including a movable portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 20 including power operated means for moving said movable portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 20 including guide means extending circumferentially about the associated engine for guiding movement of said movable portion of the fairing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein each of said engine means is mounted for pivotal movement about an inclined axis, said movable portion of the fairing means and an adjacent part of the fairing means having inclined abutting surfaces corresponding to the adjacent inclined pivot axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |