Patent ID: 8322647
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: B64C,B64D

Abstract:
1. An aircraft comprising: an aircraft housing; an input drive shaft having a longitudinal axis; a powerplant coupled to the housing and configured to rotate the input drive shaft around the longitudinal axis thereof; at least two lift fan assemblies coupled to the aircraft housing, each including a gearbox and at least one lift fan coupled thereto, wherein the input drive shaft is coupled to the gearbox to transfer rotational energy thereto and wherein each fan assembly further includes a first actuator mounted on at least one of a support shaft or the aircraft housing and the first actuator including a linear actuator or a rotary actuator, and each fan assembly further includes a second actuator coupled to the support shaft and mounted to the aircraft housing, the second actuator includes a linear actuator or a rotary actuator; and at least two pivot assemblies for each of the at least two lift fan assemblies, including a first pivot assembly configured to pivot a lift fan assembly on a first axis by movement of the first actuator, and a second pivot assembly configured to pivot a lift fan assembly on a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis by the movement of the second actuator, wherein each lift fan assembly is pivoted independently on at least one axis.