초록 ▼

An apparatus that permits a rotatable wing to be operated in three modes: a first orientation mode, a second orientation mode, and a mode in which the wing rotates (called the rotating mode). The apparatus permits the wing to be stowed and used in both fixed-wing flight and rotary wing flight. The a

An apparatus that permits a rotatable wing to be operated in three modes: a first orientation mode, a second orientation mode, and a mode in which the wing rotates (called the rotating mode). The apparatus permits the wing to be stowed and used in both fixed-wing flight and rotary wing flight. The apparatus may be a component of an aircraft capable of fixed-wing flight with a fuselage oriented generally in the direction of flight. In the first orientation mode, the wing is generally parallel to the orientation of the fuselage, providing a relatively compact stowage configuration. In the second orientation mode, the wing is generally perpendicular to the orientation of the fuselage. The first orientation mode thus facilitates stowage of the wing during stowed flight of such an aircraft under power of a host aircraft, the second orientation mode facilitates fixed-wing flight, and the rotating mode facilitates rotating-wing flight. The wing may be started into auto-driven (i.e., autogyro) operation after operating in fixed-wing flight. Once in the wing has fully engaged in self-powered rotation, no torque needs to be applied. Since the motor of the aircraft needs only to move the aircraft's wing between the first and second orientation modes, and into a self-powered rotating mode, the motor may have relatively simple structure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [20.]20. An apparatus comprising:a rotatable wing operative to be moved in a first orientation mode, a second orientation mode, and a rotating mode;a motor coupled to a central portion of said rotatable wing, via a teetering hinge, so as to enable said motor to rotate the rota

[ What is claimed is:] [20.]20. An apparatus comprising:a rotatable wing operative to be moved in a first orientation mode, a second orientation mode, and a rotating mode;a motor coupled to a central portion of said rotatable wing, via a teetering hinge, so as to enable said motor to rotate the rotatable wing; anda locking mechanism configured to be selectably decoupled from said rotatable wing and coupled to the wing in a first locking mode and a second locking mode, wherein, when coupled to the rotatable wing in the first locking mode, said locking mechanism permits the rotatable wing to operate in the second orientation mode but prevents the rotatable wing from operating in the rotating mode, when coupled to the rotatable wing in the second locking mode, said locking mechanism permits the rotatable wing to operate in the first orientation mode but prevents the rotatable wing from operating in the second orientation mode and the rotating mode, and when decoupled from the rotatable wing, the locking mechanism permits the rotatable wing to operate in the rotating mode.