US6607162B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ring-wing aircraft
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
•
Filing: 2001-04-20
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Granted: 2003-08-19
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Expires: 2021-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A ring-wing aircraft suited particularly, although not exclusively, to use in micro-unmanned air vehicles (UAV's) with ring-wings. An aircraft ( 10 ) according to the invention comprises a ring-wing ( 11 ) defining a duct ( 16 ) with a longitudinally-extending central axis ( 31 ), propulsion element ( 15 ) located within the duct and moveable aerofoils ( 13, 18 ) for controlling the aircraft in flight, the ring-wing being truncated obliquely at one end, that end being the rear ( 11 b ) when in horizontal flight, to form a ring-wing with opposed sides of unequal length. This arrangement produces center of mass offset from the central axis of the ring-wing, the pendulum effect will ensure that the aircraft will roll so that its center of mass will always be at the lowest height possible when the aircraft is airborne. Therefore the aircraft has a preferred orientation, and the control surfaces can be oriented with respect to this preferred orientation. In addition, the oblique truncation at the rear keeps the center of mass towards the front of the aircraft thereby giving improved stability in all three axes.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde Warsop
- 👤 Mike Woods
- 👤 James Henderson
- 👤 Gary Lock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:28
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C39/00; B64C39/06; B64C39/062; B64U; B64U10/00; B64U10/25; B64U30/00; B64U30/20; B64U30/21; B64U50/00; B64U50/10; B64U50/13; B64U50/14; B64U30/10; B64U30/12; B64U50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An aircraft comprising: a fuselage; and a propulsion unit; wherein said fuselage is in the form of a ring-wing having a substantially circular cross-section defining a duct with a longitudinally-extending central axis, said propulsion unit being located within the duct and moveable aerofoils for controlling the aircraft in flight, the ring-wing fuselage being truncated obliquely at one end, such that a rear end of the aircraft, relative to a direction of horizontal flight, is truncated obliquely to form a ring-wing with opposed sides of unequal length, with a rear lower side extending beyond a rear upper side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
An aircraft comprising: a fuselage; and a propulsion unit; wherein said fuselage is in the form of a ring-wing having a substantially circular cross-section defining a duct with a longitudinally-extending central axis, said propulsion unit being located within the duct and moveable aerofoils for controlling the aircraft in flight, the ring-wing fuselage being truncated obliquely at one end, such that a rear end of the aircraft, relative to a direction of horizontal flight, is truncated obliquely to form a ring-wing with opposed sides of unequal length, with a rear lower side extending beyond a rear upper side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the ring-wing fuselage is truncated by a planar slice through the ring-wing fuselage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the ring-wing fuselage is truncated by a curved slice, the angle made with the ring-wing fuselage being relatively shallow at the longer side of the ring-wing fuselage and relatively steep at the shorter side of the ring-wing fuselage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of components and any payload are housed in a compartment that is external to the longer side of the ring-wing fuselage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An aircraft according to claim 4 , wherein the compartment is provided at an end of the ring-wing fuselage, that end being the front when in horizontal flight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An aircraft to claim 1 , wherein components and payload are housed in a compartment provided within the longer side of the ring-wing fuselage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein: at least one of said aerofoils is a pitch controlling aerofoil; and the pitch controlling aerofoil is positioned to reside substantially flat with the lower side of the ring-wing fuselage when not deployed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An aircraft according to claim 7 , wherein the pitch-controlling aerofoil is provided as an element of the longer side of the ring-wing fuselage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An aircraft according to claim 7 , further comprising two orthogonal vanes, wherein one vane provides aerodynamic lift in the same as the pitch-controlling aerofoil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
An aircraft according to claim 1 , which is unmanned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An aircraft comprising: a fuselage in the form of a ring-wing having a cross section defining a duct with a longitudinally extending central axis; a propulsion unit located within the duct; moveable air foils located within the duct for controlling the aircraft in flight; wherein the ring-wing fuselage is truncated at a rearward end thereof relative to direction of air flow through said duct, forming opposed portions of said ring-wing fuselage which are of unequal length, such that when said aircraft is in horizontal flight, a lower portion of said ring-wing fuselage extends farther rearwardly than an upper portion thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
An aircraft comprising: a fuselage in the form of a ring-wing having a cross section defining a duct with a longitudinally extending central axis; a propulsion unit located within the duct; moveable air foils located within the duct for controlling the aircraft in flight; wherein the ring-wing fuselage is truncated at a rearward end thereof relative to direction of air flow through said duct, forming opposed portions of said ring-wing fuselage which are of unequal length, such that when said aircraft is in horizontal flight, a lower portion of said ring-wing fuselage extends farther rearwardly than an upper portion thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-18 | 2007-02-17 | 2007-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-18 | 2011-02-17 | 2011-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-18 | 2015-02-17 | 2015-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |