US 12,071,234 B2
Hybrid power systems for different modes of flight
Pranay Sinha, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Damon Vander Lind, Alameda, CA (US)
Assigned to Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/244,785.
Application 18/244,785 is a continuation of application No. 17/380,687, filed on Jul. 20, 2021, granted, now 11,787,537.
Application 17/380,687 is a continuation of application No. 17/066,050, filed on Oct. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,097,839, issued on Aug. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/912,872, filed on Oct. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0415886 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. 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)
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)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, including:
a cruise-only propeller;
a hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor;
a first power source that includes an internal combustion engine; and
a second power source that includes a high discharge rate battery and a high energy battery; wherein:
the cruise-only propeller is electrically connected to the first power source and is electrically disconnected from the second power source;
the hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor is electrically disconnected from the first power source and is electrically connected to the second power source;
during a cruise mode, the cruise-only propeller provides thrust by rotating using power from the first power source;
during a hovering mode and a transitional mode that occurs between the hovering mode and the cruise mode, the cruise-only propeller provides no thrust;
during the cruise mode, the hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor provides no thrust;
during the hovering mode and the transitional mode, the hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor provides thrust by rotating using power from the second power source; and
during a vertical landing in the hovering mode, the hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor switches power sources from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery, independent of a current draw.