Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
Many aspects of the Klein Vision AirCAr are patented, beyond the essential reciprocal transformation of the hybrid vehicle, from road to air car, and back to road car. For example, the following US utility patent application US20190256193A1, titled Folding propeller, addresses the design of the propeller in a convertible vehicle with two configurations: a flight configuration and a road use configuration. In particular, the invention addresses the regulations that prohibit the presence of such sharp objects as propeller blades, on vehicles for use on public roads. Accordingly, the invention recites a propeller designed to provide thrust for the AirCar, when it is flying, and housing for the blades, when it is being driven on a road. Mounted on a hub, the propeller blades rotate radially in an extended position, when the vehicle is in flight configuration, and fold inside a blade housing, as part of the road configuration.
Below, the abstract of the Klein Vision folding propeller invention, together with the patent application Figures 3 and 4. The patent Figures 3 and 4 respectively show a partial rear view of the flying car with a propeller in a radially extended position; and a partial rear view of the flying car with the propeller in a folded position. Specifically, the Figure 3 depicts the radially extended propeller 28, with three blades 32, the hub 30, mounted in the rear part of the body section 14, connected to the engine via a propeller shaft, running along the upper part of the body. To make the vehicle safer on roads, the blades are foldable in housings 32, with housing covers 36, depicted in Figure 4. The housings 32, also in the rear part of the body section 14, are parallel to the propeller shaft, arranged 120 degrees apart, so as to correspond to the arrangement of the three blades 28. One of the housings 32 is arranged above the horizontal support surface 22’. The remaining two are arranged on each side of the vertical supporting structure 20’. The housing covers 36 are each hinged on one edge of their respective housings 32. The hub includes a user-operated locking mechanism, enabling to release the blades 28 from their radially extended position, back to a safer folded position, respectively within each housing 32. The housing covers 36 are then also closed, in order to cover the blades completely.
The scope of the Klein Vision AIrCar folding propellor invention extends to varying propeller blade configurations. Configurations which might include a different number of blades, and which might be designed on different parts of the vehicle, in the front, or on the side of the vehicle body.
An aircraft, such as a flying car, comprising a body structure, lift structures (such as wings ), control structures (such as fins, elevators, and ailerons), and a motor; a propeller connected to the motor and mounted for rotation about a drive axis to provide thrust; the propeller comprising a hub having a plurality of blades connected thereto; and a plurality of blade housings adjacent the propeller, and extending substantially parallel to the drive axis; wherein the blades are mounted on the hub, so as to be moveable between an expanded position, in which the blades project radially from the hub, and a folded position, in which each blade extends axially from the hub, so as to lie in a respective blade housing. [Abstract US20190256193A1]
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Note (1) Interestingly, the patent application recites some of the terminology associated with convertible vehicles, such as the Klein Vision AirCar. In particular, the patent recites the term “flying car” and “roadable aircraft”, selecting the former to designate the AirCar within the context of the patent application.
References
Certificate of Airworthiness – Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
https://www.caa.co.uk/commercial-industry/aircraft/airworthiness/certificates-and-permits/certificates-of-airworthiness/certificates-of-airworthiness/
Certificate of Airworthiness – Federal Aviation Authority
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) https://www.caa.co.uk/
Klein Vision AirCar https://www.klein-vision.com/
