Vertical take-off and landing platform capable of inhibiting downwash airflow and ground vortex

Abstract

The invention provides a vertical take-off and landing platform capable of inhibiting downwash airflow and ground vortex, which structurally comprises a hollow take-off and landing platform surface, a large-volume sunken cavity, an exhaust runner, an exhaust fan and a one-way valve, and can exhaust downwash airflow generated by propellers and ducted fans from the lower part when an aircraft takes off and lands vertically; the air flow is scattered by the hollow surface of the take-off and landing platform surface and cannot rebound to form vortex, so that corresponding interference during take-off and landing and low-altitude hovering of the aircraft is effectively eliminated, and the take-off and landing efficiency and safety are remarkably improved. The vertical take-off and landing platform is high in universality and relatively low in manufacturing cost, and therefore the vertical take-off and landing platform has high popularization and application value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of aircraft take-off and landing facilities, specifically relating to a vertical take-off and landing platform capable of suppressing downwash airflow and ground eddies. Background Technology

[0002] For vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft such as helicopters and eVTOLs, the high-speed motion of their propellers and ducted fan blades triggers downwash. At lower altitudes, the downwash airflow interacts with the ground, generating ground eddies. This severely interferes with takeoff, landing, and low-altitude hovering, compromising lift balance and exacerbating airframe vibration and roll, thus significantly impacting flight safety. Furthermore, dust and debris stirred up by the downwash and ground eddies can damage the fuselage surface, power system, and sensors, further reducing safety. On the other hand, the proliferation of designs and configurations for various low-altitude VTOL aircraft has led to a proliferation of propellers and ducted fans, inevitably resulting in more complex and severe downwash phenomena. However, the field currently lacks sufficient understanding of this issue, and measures to suppress downwash and eddies for these aircraft are scarce. Existing VTOL platforms mostly utilize flat, hard ground and focus on optimizing the wing, blade, and fuselage structures to address downwash, neglecting to address the problem from the perspective of the takeoff and landing facilities. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, and in response to the technical problems existing in this field, the present invention provides a vertical take-off and landing platform capable of suppressing downwash airflow and ground eddies, comprising: a take-off and landing platform, a sunken cavity, an exhaust channel, and an exhaust fan; The landing platform is used to support the vertical take-off and landing aircraft. It covers the upper opening of the sinking cavity and adopts a hollow structure that allows the downwash airflow to pass through. Several exhaust channels are evenly distributed on the side wall of the sinking cavity to discharge the downwash airflow from the sinking cavity. Each exhaust channel is equipped with an exhaust fan to adjust the flow rate of the discharged airflow.

[0004] Furthermore, the landing platform is made of non-slip carbon fiber composite material or aluminum alloy material with a thickness of 5-10cm and a perforation spacing of 3-8cm; the lower surface of the landing platform is provided with several reinforcing ribs with a spacing of 0.4-0.6cm.

[0005] Furthermore, a guide cone is set at the center of the bottom surface of the sinking cavity to help guide the downwash airflow to the side wall of the sinking cavity, thereby improving the efficiency of airflow discharge.

[0006] Furthermore, the sinking cavity specifically adopts a cuboid, cylindrical, or ellipsoidal structure, with a smooth inner wall and a volume not less than 1.2 times the maximum instantaneous downwash airflow of the aircraft.

[0007] Furthermore, each exhaust channel adopts an inclined form with the inlet higher than the outlet, with a horizontal inclination angle ranging from 15° to 30°, to prevent dust, debris, rainwater, etc. from intruding and contaminating the exhaust channel and the sinking cavity; a protective net is also installed at the outlet to block dust, sewage, animals, etc. from entering.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall of the exhaust channel has a noise-reducing coating to reduce wind noise during the operation of the vertical take-off and landing platform.

[0009] Furthermore, each exhaust fan is equipped with a one-way valve to prevent airflow reversal and to prevent dust, debris, rainwater, etc. from entering and contaminating the exhaust channel and the sinking cavity.

[0010] Furthermore, a gas pressure sensor is installed in the sinking cavity, and a gas flow sensor is installed in each exhaust channel. The vertical takeoff and landing platform also includes a control system that can sense the approach and departure status of the aircraft and control the start and stop of the exhaust fans. During takeoff and landing, the control system dynamically adjusts the exhaust fan speed based on the aircraft's altitude and attitude information, the air pressure in the sinking cavity, and the gas flow detection results in the exhaust channels. After takeoff and landing, the exhaust fans are turned off after a certain delay to ensure the cleanliness of the sinking cavity and exhaust channels.

[0011] Furthermore, the vertical takeoff and landing platform specifically utilizes infrared sensors to detect the aircraft, or adopts a communication method with the aircraft to achieve coordinated control between the two.

[0012] The vertical takeoff and landing platform provided by the present invention includes a perforated landing platform, a large-volume sunken cavity, an exhaust channel, an exhaust fan, and a one-way valve. This allows the downwash airflow generated by the propeller and ducted fan during vertical takeoff and landing to be discharged from below. The airflow is dispersed by the perforated surface of the landing platform and does not rebound to form eddies, effectively eliminating interference during takeoff, landing, and low-altitude hovering, significantly improving takeoff and landing efficiency and safety. This vertical takeoff and landing platform is highly versatile and has relatively low manufacturing costs, thus possessing high value for promotion and application. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 A perspective view of the vertical take-off and landing platform provided by the present invention; Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the vertical take-off and landing platform provided by the present invention; Figure 3 The exhaust fan and check valve in multiple exhaust channels can be configured in various ways. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] The present invention provides a vertical take-off and landing platform capable of suppressing downwash airflow and ground eddies, such as... Figure 1 , 2 As shown, it includes: lifting platform 1, sunken cavity 2, exhaust channel 3, and exhaust fan 4; The landing platform is used to support the vertical take-off and landing aircraft. It covers the upper opening of the sinking cavity and adopts a perforated structure such as a grid that allows the downwash airflow to pass through. Several exhaust channels are evenly distributed on the side wall of the sinking cavity to discharge the downwash airflow from the sinking cavity. Each exhaust channel is equipped with an exhaust fan to adjust the flow rate of the discharged airflow.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lifting platform is specifically made of non-slip carbon fiber composite material or aluminum alloy material, with a thickness ranging from 5 to 10 cm and a perforation spacing ranging from 3 to 8 cm; the lower surface of the lifting platform is provided with a number of reinforcing ribs with a spacing of 0.4 to 0.6 cm.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a guide cone 5 is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the sinking cavity to assist in guiding the downward washing airflow to the side wall of the sinking cavity, thereby improving the efficiency of airflow discharge.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sinking cavity specifically adopts a cuboid, cylinder or ellipsoid structure, with a smooth inner wall and a volume not less than 1.2 times the maximum instantaneous downwash airflow of the aircraft.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each exhaust channel adopts an inclined form with the inlet higher than the outlet, and the horizontal inclination angle ranges from -15° to -30°, to prevent dust, debris, rainwater and other substances from intruding and contaminating the exhaust channel and the sinking cavity; a protective net is also provided at the outlet to block dust, sewage, animals and other substances from entering.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall of the exhaust channel has a noise-reducing coating to reduce wind noise during the operation of the vertical take-off and landing platform.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 , 3 As shown, each exhaust fan 4 is equipped with a one-way valve 6 to prevent airflow from flowing backward and to prevent dust, debris, rainwater, etc. from entering and contaminating the exhaust channel and the sinking cavity.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gas pressure sensor is installed in the sinking cavity, and a gas flow sensor is installed in each exhaust channel; the vertical take-off and landing platform also includes a control system capable of sensing the approach and departure states of the aircraft and controlling the start and stop of the exhaust fans; during take-off and landing, the control system dynamically adjusts the exhaust fan speed based on the aircraft's altitude and attitude information, the air pressure in the sinking cavity, and the gas flow detection results in the exhaust channels; after take-off and landing, the exhaust fans are delayed for a certain period of time before being turned off to ensure the cleanliness of the sinking cavity and the exhaust channels.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vertical take-off and landing platform specifically utilizes infrared sensors to detect the aircraft, or adopts a communication method with the aircraft to achieve coordinated control between the two.

[0024] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the vertical takeoff and landing platform for a certain type of fixed-wing ducted fan powered aircraft adopts a square aluminum alloy grid-type takeoff and landing platform with a side length of 5m and a grid hole spacing of 5cm (less than the minimum width of the ducted fan blades of 8cm). The upper surface is provided with anti-slip textures with a depth of 2mm, and the lower surface is provided with reinforcing ribs spaced 0.5m apart. The overall thickness of the platform is 8cm. The sunken cavity is a cuboid with a length of 5.2m, a width of 5.2m, and a height of 2m, with a volume of approximately 54.08m³ (greater than 1.2 times the instantaneous volume of 45m³ corresponding to the maximum downwash airflow of the aircraft). The inner wall of the cavity is treated with cement mortar to form a smooth guiding surface to reduce airflow friction resistance. A guide cone is provided on the bottom surface of the sunken cavity. Sealant is applied to the top opening of the sunken cavity and the edge of the takeoff and landing platform. The sunken cavity can be constructed by stacking and excavating on existing ground, or it can be built as a fixed or movable integral structure independent of the ground. Each of the four walls of the sunken cavity is equipped with a 6m long PVC exhaust channel. Each exhaust channel has a rectangular cross-section (0.5m long, 0.4m wide) and is angled downwards at 25°. The inner wall is lined with a 3mm thick sound-absorbing cotton coating. The exhaust outlet extends to an open area 5m from the outer perimeter of the landing platform and is protected by a stainless steel mesh. Each exhaust channel is equipped with an axial flow fan with a power of 1.5kW and stepless speed regulation from 0-1500r / min. A conduction pressure of 0.01Mpa is installed behind each exhaust fan. The control system includes two infrared sensors located at the landing platform and an airflow sensor within the sunken cavity. When the infrared sensors detect the aircraft entering the landing area, the control system automatically activates the exhaust fans, adjusting their speed based on the downwash airflow intensity detected by the airflow sensor (the stronger the downwash, the higher the speed). After the aircraft completes takeoff and landing and leaves the landing area, the control system shuts off the exhaust fans after a 5-minute delay to ensure complete exhaust of any residual airflow within the underground cavity.

[0025] The specific working process of the aforementioned vertical take-off and landing platform is as follows: Takeoff Phase: When the ducted fan fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft enters the center position of the landing platform, the infrared sensor detects the aircraft and transmits the signal to the control system. The control system immediately activates four exhaust fans and adjusts the exhaust fan speed to 800 r / min based on the initial airflow intensity detected by the airflow sensor. The aircraft activates the ducted fans, generating a downward downwash airflow. Under pressure, the downwash airflow smoothly flows into the sinking cavity below through the gaps in the grid-like perforated landing platform, avoiding impact with the flat ground and resulting in rebound. After entering the sinking cavity, the downwash airflow is buffered and depressurized within the cavity. Guided by the deflector cone, it flows towards the exhaust duct inlets around the perimeter. The exhaust fans accelerate and discharge the airflow in the cavity laterally through the exhaust ducts, maintaining a slightly negative pressure state within the sinking cavity. This further guides the continuous inflow of downwash airflow, completely eliminating the generation of ground eddies and preventing the fuselage and wings from being subjected to downforce. In a stable airflow environment, the aircraft successfully completes vertical takeoff, effectively suppressing fuselage shaking and roll during takeoff.

[0026] Landing Phase: As the aircraft prepares for a vertical landing, infrared sensors detect its approach to the landing area. The control system pre-starts the exhaust fan, adjusting its speed to 1000 rpm to ensure a slightly negative pressure state within the sinking cavity. When the aircraft descends vertically above the landing platform, the downwash airflow generated by the ducted fan flows into the sinking cavity through the grid-type landing platform. After buffering and decompression, it is discharged through the exhaust channel, preventing the downwash airflow from rebounding and generating downforce, while also suppressing ground eddies from interfering with wing lift. The aircraft lands smoothly on the landing platform, with the landing gear normally supported in the grid gaps, without sideslip. After the ducted fan is shut down, the control system, based on signals detected by the airflow sensor, controls the exhaust fan to continue running for 5 minutes to completely expel residual airflow and dust from the sinking underground cavity. The exhaust fan then automatically shuts down, completing the entire landing process.

[0027] Through actual testing and verification, this invention, compared with traditional hard cement ground, can reduce the power load of the aircraft during vertical takeoff and landing by 18% and reduce energy consumption by 15%; during vertical takeoff and landing, there is no obvious shaking of the fuselage, no vortex interference on the wings, and downforce is completely eliminated; the exhaust efficiency of the exhaust channel can reach 98%, and there is no airflow accumulation in the sinking cavity; the one-way valve can effectively block external airflow and rainwater backflow, and no debris enters or accumulates after long-term use; the landing platform has good support stability, can withstand the weight of the aircraft and airflow impact, and there is no deformation or damage. It can be widely applied to the takeoff and landing safety requirements of various types of ducted fan fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

[0028] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in the embodiments of the present invention does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vertical take-off and landing platform capable of suppressing downwash airflow and ground eddies, characterized in that: This includes the lifting platform, the recessed cavity, the exhaust duct, and the exhaust fan; The landing platform is used to support the vertical take-off and landing aircraft. It covers the upper opening of the sinking cavity and adopts a hollow structure that allows the downwash airflow to pass through. Several exhaust channels are evenly distributed on the side wall of the sinking cavity to discharge the downwash airflow from the sinking cavity. Each exhaust channel is equipped with an exhaust fan to adjust the flow rate of the discharged airflow.

2. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The landing platform is made of non-slip carbon fiber composite material or aluminum alloy material, and the lower surface is equipped with several reinforcing ribs.

3. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A guide cone is set in the center of the bottom surface of the sinking cavity to help guide the downwash airflow to the side wall of the sinking cavity.

4. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The sunken cavity adopts a cuboid, cylinder, or ellipsoid structure, with a smooth inner wall.

5. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Each exhaust channel adopts an inclined form with the inlet higher than the outlet, and the horizontal inclination angle ranges from 15° to 30°.

6. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the exhaust channel has a noise-reducing coating.

7. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Each exhaust fan is equipped with a one-way valve.

8. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A gas pressure sensor is installed inside the sinking cavity, and a gas flow sensor is installed in each exhaust channel. The vertical takeoff and landing platform also includes a control system that can sense the approach and departure status of the aircraft and control the start and stop of the exhaust fans. During takeoff and landing, the control system dynamically adjusts the exhaust fan speed based on the aircraft's altitude and attitude information, the air pressure inside the sinking cavity, and the gas flow detection results in the exhaust channels. After takeoff and landing, the exhaust fans are turned off after a certain delay to ensure the cleanliness of the sinking cavity and exhaust channels.

9. The vertical take-off and landing platform as described in claim 8, characterized in that: Vertical takeoff and landing platforms utilize infrared sensors to detect aircraft or employ communication with aircraft to achieve coordinated control between the two.

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