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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12071234 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Aug. 27, 2024

Filed:

Sep. 11, 2023

Hybrid power systems for different modes of flight

Applicant:

Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Inventors:

Pranay Sinha, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Damon Vander Lind, Alameda, CA (US);

Assignee:

Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Attorney:

Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

Primary Examiner:

Medhat Badawi

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.01); B64C 13/48 (2006.01); B64C 27/82 (2006.01); B64C 39/12 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64D 27/40 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.02); B60L 53/00 (2019.02); B64C 13/48 (2013.01); B64C 27/82 (2013.01); B64C 39/12 (2013.01); B64D 27/02 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64D 27/40 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64C 2027/8209 (2013.01); B64D 27/026 (2024.01); B64D 27/402 (2024.01);
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.

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