초록 ▼

An unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a fuselage with a partial toroidal forward portion, and an aft portion. A duct is formed through the fuselage and extends from the top to the bottom of the fuselage. Two counter-rotating rotor assemblies are mounted within the duct for providing downward thru

An unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a fuselage with a partial toroidal forward portion, and an aft portion. A duct is formed through the fuselage and extends from the top to the bottom of the fuselage. Two counter-rotating rotor assemblies are mounted within the duct for providing downward thrust through the duct. The rotor assemblies are supported by a plurality of support struts. At least one engine is mounted within the fuselage and engages with the rotor assemblies. A pusher prop assembly is mounted to the aft portion of the fuselage. The pusher prop assembly is designed to provide forward thrust along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The pusher prop assembly includes a drive shaft that is engaged with the engine. A plurality of propellers are attached to and rotated by the drive shaft. A shroud is mounted to the aft portion of the fuselage around the propellers and is operative for channeling the air passing through the propellers in a substantially aft direction. A pair of wings is removably attached to the sides of the fuselage. Each wing preferably includes a fixed portion and a pivotal flaperon portion hinged to the fixed portion. Directional vanes are preferably mounted to the shroud downstream from the propellers and control flow out of the shroud. Deflectors may be mounted to the bottom of the fuselage across a portion of the duct to control flow of air into the duct.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:a fuselage having a partial toroidal forward portion, an aft portion, a top surface, a bottom surface and a duct extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the fuselage having a longitudinal axis;two counter-rotating rotor assem

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:a fuselage having a partial toroidal forward portion, an aft portion, a top surface, a bottom surface and a duct extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the fuselage having a longitudinal axis;two counter-rotating rotor assemblies mounted within the duct;a plurality of support struts for supporting the rotor assemblies within the duct;at least one engine for rotating the rotor assemblies;a pusher prop assembly mounted to the aft portion of the fuselage in longitudinal alignment with the two counter-rotating rotor assemblies, the aft portion of the fuselage having a top surface and a bottom surface, at least a portion of the top surface angling downward toward the pusher prop assembly, at least a portion of the bottom surface angling upward toward the pusher prop assembly, the pusher prop assembly adapted to provide thrust along the longitudinal axis, the pusher prop assembly including a propeller drive shaft engaged with the at least one engine, and a plurality of blades attached to the drive shaft;a shroud mounted to the aft portion of the fuselage about the blades and operative for channeling the air passing through the blades in a substantially aft direction; anda pair of wings removably attached to the fuselage, at least a portion of the wings being pivotable with respect to the fuselage.