Propulsion module for an aerial vehicle

Abstract

A propulsion module of an aerial vehicle can include a door portion disposed in a housing and opening or closing an open portion of the housing by sliding movement of the door portion, a propeller for providing propulsion to the aerial vehicle, a linkage assembly having a first end portion connected to the housing and a second end portion connected to the propeller to pull the propeller through the open portion into an interior space of the housing or pull the propeller through the open portion outside the interior space, and a portion opening and closing the door portion coupled to the door portion and configured to provide an opening force or a closing force to the door portion according to the inward pulling movement or the outward pulling movement of the propeller, respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a propulsion module for an air vehicle that can use a single actuator to open and close doors while raising and lowering the propeller, use the propeller when raising the air vehicle, house the propeller inside the propulsion module during cruise to reduce drag, and improve aerodynamic characteristics by closing the doors. Background Technology

[0002] The propulsion system of an air vehicle consists of lift thrusters and cruise thrusters. Among these thrusters, the lift thrusters, which are used to enable the air vehicle to ascend and descend, generate air resistance during cruise. Therefore, these thrusters should be folded and housed inside the boom of the air vehicle to increase its cruising range.

[0003] However, when the raising or lowering of the propeller assembly and the opening or closing of the tailgate are performed separately, additional actuators must be connected to the propeller assembly and the tailgate respectively, which inevitably increases weight and cost.

[0004] Therefore, a technology is needed that can synchronize the raising and lowering of the actuator and the opening and closing of the door using a single actuator.

[0005] The information disclosed in the background section of this invention is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that such information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Aspects of the present invention aim to provide a propulsion module for an air vehicle that can use a single actuator to open and close doors while raising and lowering the propulsion, use the propulsion during the ascent of the air vehicle, and house the propulsion within the propulsion module during cruise, thereby reducing drag and improving aerodynamic characteristics by closing the doors.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a propulsion module for an air vehicle includes: a housing having an internal space and an opening on one side of the housing; a door disposed in the housing and opening of the housing is opened and closed by sliding movement of the door; a thruster mounted in the internal space of the housing and providing propulsion for the air vehicle; a linkage assembly having a first end portion connected to the housing and a second end portion connected to the thruster to pull the thruster through the opening into the internal space of the housing or to pull the thruster through the opening to the outside of the internal space; and a portion for opening and closing the door, coupled to the door and configured to provide an opening force or a closing force to the door accordingly based on an inward or outward pulling movement of the thruster.

[0008] The shell can be the tail boom or wing of an air vehicle.

[0009] The opening can be located at the upper end of the housing, and the thruster can be pulled to the outside of the housing through the opening when it is raised, and the thruster can be pulled to the inside of the housing through the opening when it is lowered.

[0010] The thruster can be raised or lowered from the casing, and the thruster is a lift thruster that provides vertical thrust to air vehicles.

[0011] The linkage assembly may include: a linkage, a first end portion of which is pivotally connected to a housing and a second end portion of which is pivotally connected to a thruster; and an actuator coupled to the linkage and configured to provide rotational force to the linkage.

[0012] The actuator has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is connected to the housing and the second end portion is coupled to a portion of a link, which, when the actuator is extended, can cause the link to rotate in the direction in which the thruster is pulled outward.

[0013] The door can be a two-door type, which opens and closes the opening portion of the housing from opposite sides of the door.

[0014] A gas lifting mechanism can be installed between the door and the housing, so that the door continuously receives force in the closing direction of the door.

[0015] The actuator and the door can be connected to each other by wires, so that when the actuator is pulled out of the housing, the wires can pull the door to open the door, and when the actuator is pulled inward of the housing, the wires can be released to close the door.

[0016] The wire is engaged with a pulley disposed in the housing. One end portion of the wire may extend to one side of the pulley to connect to the pusher, and the other end portion of the wire may extend in the same direction as the extending end portion to connect to the door.

[0017] The propulsion module of the air vehicle according to the present invention has the following effects: the propulsion module can use a single actuator to open and close the door while raising and lowering the propulsion, use the propulsion when raising the air vehicle, and house the propulsion inside the propulsion module during cruise, thereby reducing drag and improving aerodynamic characteristics by closing the door.

[0018] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages, which will become apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a propulsion module of an air vehicle according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 This is a view showing the open state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a view showing the closed state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 8 and Figure 9 This is a view illustrating the operation of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] It is understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and these drawings present a slightly simplified representation of several features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. Specific design features of the invention as included herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific intended use and environment of use.

[0024] In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals throughout the drawings refer to the same or equivalent parts of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood that these descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments thereof, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a propulsion module of an air vehicle according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 This is a view showing the open state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a view showing the closed state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 and Figure 9 This is a view illustrating the operation of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a propulsion module for an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The propulsion module for an air vehicle according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include: a housing 100 having an internal space and an opening H on one side; a door 300 disposed in the housing 100 and opening and closing the opening H by sliding movement of the door; a thruster 500 disposed in the internal space of the housing 100 and providing propulsion for the air vehicle; a linkage assembly 700, one end of which is connected to the housing 100 and the other end of which is connected to the thruster 500 to pull the thruster 500 inward through the opening H into the internal space of the housing 100 or to pull the thruster 500 outward through the opening H into the external space of the housing 100; and a door-closing portion 900 for providing opening and closing forces to the door 300 in conjunction with the inward or outward pulling movement of the thruster 500.

[0028] The air vehicle of the present invention can be applied to systems that distribute propulsion through multiple thrusters. Regarding the thrusters, the present invention is applicable to lift thrusters, which not only need to extend and deploy for propulsion during the ascent and descent of the air vehicle, but also need to fold and be housed within the air vehicle during cruise to reduce air resistance.

[0029] The lift propulsion unit is housed in the tail boom of an air vehicle. In this respect, the housing of the present invention can be the tail boom or wing of an air vehicle.

[0030] An internal space is formed within the housing 100, and an opening H is provided on one side of the housing. A thruster 500 is disposed within the internal space of the housing 100. The thruster 500 is pulled outward through the opening H to the outside of the housing 100 or pulled inward into the housing 100. When pulled outward, the thruster 500 provides propulsion for lift, and when pulled inward, it reduces air resistance during cruise by being housed within the interior of the air vehicle.

[0031] Furthermore, a door 300 is provided in the opening portion H of the housing 100 to be opened or closed by a sliding motion. When the thruster 500 is pulled outward, the door 300 opens to allow the thruster 500 to be pulled outward to the outside, and when the thruster 500 is pulled inward, the door 300 closes to form the outer surface of the housing 100, thereby improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the housing 100 during cruise.

[0032] The thruster 500 is located in the internal space of the housing 100 and provides propulsion for the air vehicle to ascend when it is pulled outward.

[0033] In addition, one end portion of the linkage assembly 700 is connected to the housing 100 and the other end portion of the linkage assembly is connected to the thruster 500 so as to perform an operation that allows the thruster 500 to be pulled inward into the interior space of the housing 100 or outward into the exterior space of the housing 100 through the opening portion H.

[0034] In addition, the opening and closing portion 900, in conjunction with the inward or outward pulling motion of the pusher 500, provides opening and closing forces to the door portion 300.

[0035] In several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an actuator 740 is disposed in the linkage assembly 700 such that the inward or outward pulling motion of the pusher 500 is controlled by the linkage assembly 700. Furthermore, the portion 900 of the door 300 connected to the linkage assembly 700 or the pusher 500 is configured to open or close the door 300 by receiving movement from the linkage assembly 700 or the pusher 500 and interlocking with the door 300. Therefore, both the inward and outward pulling motions of the pusher 500 and the opening and closing of the door 300 are controlled by a single actuator 740.

[0036] Therefore, since the opening portion H needs to be opened when the pusher 500 is pulled outward, and the door portion 300 needs to be closed when the pusher 500 is pulled inward, these two movements can be combined by a single actuator 740.

[0037] Furthermore, an opening H may be formed on the upper end portion of the housing 100, and through the opening H, the thruster 500 can be pulled outward to the outside of the housing 100 when raised and pulled inward to the inside of the housing 100 when lowered. Additionally, the thruster 500 may be a lift thruster that raises and lowers from the housing 100 and provides vertical thrust for the air vehicle. The thruster 500 includes blades 520 and a motor 540, and a separate operating mechanism 560 allows multiple blades 520 to fold together or deploy together. In several exemplary embodiments of the invention, when the thruster 500 is pulled inward, multiple blades 520 are controlled to fold together.

[0038] Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 This is a view showing the open state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a view showing the closed state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The linkage assembly 700 may include: a linkage 720, one end portion of which is connected to the housing 100 and the other end portion of which is connected to the thruster 500; and an actuator 740 that provides rotational force to the linkage 720. As shown, the actuator 740 has a cylindrical shape that can extend and retract, and the actuator may be configured to be electric or hydraulic.

[0040] In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the link 720 may be pivotally connected to the housing 100 at one or more of its end portions, and pivotally connected to the thruster 500 at other end portions.

[0041] Figure 2 The image shows the thruster 500 extended to the outside. Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of one side of the gas lifting mechanism 920, and Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of one side of wire 940.

[0042] One end portion of the actuator 740 is connected to the housing 100, and the other end portion of the actuator is connected to the connecting rod 720, such that the connecting rod 720 can rotate in the direction in which the thruster 500 is pulled outward when the actuator extends. That is, when it is necessary to pull the thruster 500 outward, the actuator 740 extends, as... Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the connecting rod 720 is lifted and the entire thruster 500 rises upward.

[0043] Furthermore, the door 300 can be a two-door type, which opens and closes the opening H of the housing 100 from opposite sides of the door. Additionally, a gas lifting mechanism 920 is disposed between the door 300 and the housing 100, allowing the door to continuously receive force in the closing direction. Under normal circumstances, the gas lifting mechanism 920 continuously pushes the door 300 and applies a spring force to allow the door 300 to be in the closed state.

[0044] In this state, the pusher 500 and the door 300 are connected to each other via a wire 940, such that when the pusher 500 is pulled outward, the wire 940 can be pulled to open the door, and when the pusher 500 is pulled inward, the wire 940 can be released to close the door 300. Furthermore, when the wire 940 is attached to a pulley 960 disposed in the housing 100, one end portion of the wire 940 can extend to one side of the pulley to connect to the pusher 500, and the other end portion of the wire 940 can extend in the same direction as the extending end portion of the wire 940 to connect to the door 300.

[0045] That is, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, when the actuator 740 extends to pull the thruster 500 outward, the thruster 500 rises. Simultaneously, as... Figure 4 As shown, the raising of the pusher 500 causes it to pull the wire 940, and because the wire 940 is connected to the door 300 via the pulley 960, the door 300 is pulled and the opening is opened. This links the raising of the pusher 500 with the opening of the door 300.

[0046] In this state, although the gas lifting mechanism 920 continuously applies force to close the door 300, the door 300 remains stably in its open position without wobbling when the extension position of the actuator 740 is fixed.

[0047] at the same time, Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7This is a view showing the closed state of the propulsion module of an air vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this case, instead, the actuator 740 retracts and the linkage 720 is pulled. Therefore, the propeller 500 is lowered into the housing 100. Additionally, as the propeller 500 lowers, the cable 940 is released, and thus, the door 300 is raised by the force of the gas lifting mechanism 920 and closes. Therefore, even in an immediate situation, the inward pulling of the propeller 500 and the closing of the door 300 are controlled together by a single actuator 740.

[0048] The propulsion module of the air vehicle according to the present invention has the following effects: the propulsion module can use a single actuator to open and close the door while raising and lowering the propeller, use the propeller when raising the air vehicle, and house the propeller inside the module during cruise, thereby reducing drag and improving aerodynamic characteristics by closing the door.

[0049] For ease of interpretation and precise definition of the appended claims, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “up,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “front,” “back,” “inside,” “external,” “inward,” “outward,” “within,” “outside,” “internal,” “external,” “forward,” and “backward” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of these features shown in the figures. It should also be understood that the term “connection” or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0050] For purposes of illustration and description, the foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing teachings. These exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application, enabling those skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A propulsion module for an air vehicle, the propulsion module comprising: A housing having an internal space and an opening on one side of the housing; A door portion is disposed in the housing and the opening portion is opened or closed by the sliding movement of the door portion; A thruster, installed in the internal space of the housing and providing propulsion for the air vehicle; A linkage assembly, wherein a first end portion of the linkage assembly is connected to the housing and a second end portion of the linkage assembly is connected to the thruster, for pulling the thruster through the opening into the interior space of the housing or pulling the thruster through the opening to the outside of the interior space; as well as A portion for opening and closing the door, connected to the door and configured to provide an opening force or a closing force to the door accordingly based on the inward or outward pulling motion of the actuator; The actuator and the door are connected to each other by wires, such that when the actuator is pulled outward from the housing, the wires pull the door to open it, and when the actuator is pulled inward from the housing, the wires are released to close the door. A gas lifting mechanism is provided between the door and the housing, and the gas lifting mechanism is connected between the door and the housing so that the door continuously receives a force in the closing direction of the door through the gas lifting mechanism.

2. The propulsion module according to claim 1, wherein, The shell is the tail boom or wing of the air vehicle.

3. The propulsion module according to claim 1, in, The opening is located at the upper end portion of the housing, and Specifically, when the thruster is raised, the thruster is pulled through the opening to the outside of the housing, and when the thruster is lowered, the thruster is pulled through the opening to the inside of the housing.

4. The propulsion module according to claim 1, wherein, The thruster rises or falls from the housing, and the thruster is a lift thruster that provides vertical thrust to the air vehicle.

5. The propulsion module according to claim 1, wherein, The linkage assembly includes: A connecting rod, the first end portion of which is pivotally connected to the housing and the second end portion of which is pivotally connected to the thruster; and An actuator is attached to the link and configured to provide rotational force to the link.

6. The propulsion module according to claim 5, wherein, The actuator includes: a first end portion pivotally connected to the housing; and a second end portion pivotally connected to a portion of the link.

7. The propulsion module according to claim 5, wherein, When the actuator extends, it causes the connecting rod to rotate in the direction in which the thruster is pulled outward.

8. The propulsion module according to claim 5, wherein, When the actuator retracts, it causes the connecting rod to rotate in the direction in which the thruster is pulled inward.

9. The propulsion module according to claim 1, wherein, The door includes a first door member and a second door member, which open and close the opening portion of the housing from opposite sides of the door with respect to the thruster, respectively.

10. The propulsion module according to claim 1, in, The wire is engaged with a pulley disposed in the housing, and a first end portion of the wire extends to one side of the pulley to connect to the pusher; and The second end portion of the wire extends from the pulley in one direction to connect with the door portion.

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