Buzz on Toyota's published US application 20150246720 for flying car
The first claim of the published application is to a wing:
A wing comprising: an upper surface that forms a generally fixed shape; and a lower surface adjacent to said upper surface, wherein said lower surface is morphable between a stowed shape and a deployed shape, wherein said wing has a compact shape of reduced thickness when said lower surface has said stowed shape, wherein said wing has an airfoil shape when said lower surface has said deployed shape, wherein said wing is one of a multiple of wings stackably located atop a body of an aerocar in a roadable mode and selectively extendable away from said body in a flight mode, wherein said wing has said compact shape in said roadable mode, and wherein said wing has said deployed shape in said flight mode.
The background section
[0001] The present disclosure pertains to a vehicle that can be flown as a fixed wing aircraft and driven as a land vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to stackable wing architectures therefor.
[0002] Flying has always been a dream central to the history of humanity. Aerocars or roadable aircraft are defined as vehicles that may be driven on roads as well as take off, fly, and land as aircraft. Vehicles that demonstrate such capability provide operators with freedom, comfort, and the ability to arrive quickly to a destination as mobility becomes three-dimensional yet remains private and personal. Such vehicles, however, may require various trade offs to facilities operations in the flight mode and the roadable mode.
[0003] Typically, a body of a land vehicle is relatively short to facilitate parking and road maneuverability, whereas a body of an aircraft is relatively long to facilitate flight stability and control authority. In one conventional roadable aircraft, each wing folds upward at a root and downward a mid-span location to stow against the fuselage in the land mode. Although effective, the more numerous the fold locations, the greater the weight and complexity that necessarily influences operability in each mode. Further, such wing stowage may limit operator aft and side views conducive to effective operations in the road mode.
See Automotive News: Toyota applies for patent that could lead to flying car
A wing comprising: an upper surface that forms a generally fixed shape; and a lower surface adjacent to said upper surface, wherein said lower surface is morphable between a stowed shape and a deployed shape, wherein said wing has a compact shape of reduced thickness when said lower surface has said stowed shape, wherein said wing has an airfoil shape when said lower surface has said deployed shape, wherein said wing is one of a multiple of wings stackably located atop a body of an aerocar in a roadable mode and selectively extendable away from said body in a flight mode, wherein said wing has said compact shape in said roadable mode, and wherein said wing has said deployed shape in said flight mode.
The background section
[0001] The present disclosure pertains to a vehicle that can be flown as a fixed wing aircraft and driven as a land vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to stackable wing architectures therefor.
[0002] Flying has always been a dream central to the history of humanity. Aerocars or roadable aircraft are defined as vehicles that may be driven on roads as well as take off, fly, and land as aircraft. Vehicles that demonstrate such capability provide operators with freedom, comfort, and the ability to arrive quickly to a destination as mobility becomes three-dimensional yet remains private and personal. Such vehicles, however, may require various trade offs to facilities operations in the flight mode and the roadable mode.
[0003] Typically, a body of a land vehicle is relatively short to facilitate parking and road maneuverability, whereas a body of an aircraft is relatively long to facilitate flight stability and control authority. In one conventional roadable aircraft, each wing folds upward at a root and downward a mid-span location to stow against the fuselage in the land mode. Although effective, the more numerous the fold locations, the greater the weight and complexity that necessarily influences operability in each mode. Further, such wing stowage may limit operator aft and side views conducive to effective operations in the road mode.
See Automotive News: Toyota applies for patent that could lead to flying car
posted by Lawrence B. Ebert at 6:34 AM
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