Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Shape morphing fuselage for an aerocar
- Patent Title (中): 形状变形机身为气溶胶
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Application No.: US14577861Application Date: 2014-12-19
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Publication No.: US09561698B2Publication Date: 2017-02-07
- Inventor: Umesh N. Gandhi , Taewoo Nam
- Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicant Address: US KY Erlanger
- Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US KY Erlanger
- Agency: Darrow Mustafa PC
- Agent Christopher G. Darrow
- Main IPC: B60F5/02
- IPC: B60F5/02 ; B64C3/56 ; B64C1/06

Abstract:
A shape morphing fuselage and method of transitioning an aerocar from a land mode to a flight mode are disclosed. The fuselage includes a plurality of flexible frame members and tensile skin extending between the plurality of flexible frame members as well as an actuation system configured to bend the plurality of flexible frame members between a contracted configuration associated with a flight mode and an expanded configuration associated with a land mode. The fuselage can also include a hatch pivotable about an axis of one of the flexible frame members in the expanded configuration and configured to open for deployment and retraction of wings for the aerocar.
Public/Granted literature
- US20160176256A1 SHAPE MORPHING FUSELAGE FOR AN AEROCAR Public/Granted day:2016-06-23
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