US 11,912,393 B2
Aircraft drag reduction system including an internally cooled motor system and aircraft using same
JoeBen Bevirt, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Gregor Veble Mikic, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Joey Milia, Palo Alto, CA (US); Rob Thodal, Santa Cruz, CA (US); and Vishnu Vithala, Capitola, CA (US)
Assigned to Joby Aero, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed by Joby Aero, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/586,801.
Application 17/586,801 is a continuation of application No. 16/355,745, filed on Mar. 16, 2019, granted, now 11,312,471.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/694,910, filed on Jul. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/643,763, filed on Mar. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0169362 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64C 1/38 (2006.01); B64C 23/00 (2006.01); B64C 21/08 (2023.01); B64C 27/32 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 1/38 (2013.01) [B64C 23/005 (2013.01); B64C 21/08 (2013.01); B64C 27/32 (2013.01); B64C 2230/04 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerial vehicle with a drag reduction system, said aerial vehicle comprising:
a motor driven rotor assembly, said motor driven rotor assembly comprising:
a rotor;
a stator, said rotor rotationally coupled to said stator;
a propeller hub, said propeller hub mounted directly to a front side of said rotor;
a nacelle, said nacelle defining an outer surface, said rotor forward of a forward edge of the nacelle, the forward edge of said outer surface of said nacelle defining an air inlet gap behind said rotor, said air inlet gap fluidically coupled to an interior of said nacelle; and
a multi-channel diffuser, said diffuser comprising one or more diffuser plates, said diffuser fluidically coupled to said air inlet gap, said diffuser fluidically coupled to said interior of said nacelle.