US 11,999,473 B2
Self-orienting pods
Todd A. Spierling, Rockford, IL (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/382,636.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/057,702, filed on Jul. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0033071 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 27/52 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 27/52 (2013.01) [B64D 27/24 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an electric motor;
a drive shaft connected to be driven by the electric motor; and
a propulsor connected to be driven by the shaft, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot to a first orientation configured to produce lift when the electric motor rotates the shaft in a first direction and to pivot to a second orientation configured to produce thrust when the electric motor rotates the shaft in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, wherein the propulsor is configured to pivot back and forth between the first and second orientations under actuation of torque from the drive shaft without any other actuator, and wherein the electric motor is configured to both provide the actuation of the propulsor between the first and second orientations and power the propulsor to rotate to provide the thrust and lift.