Method for carrying out a starting procedure of an aircraft, and a system for operating a corresponding aircraft

Abstract

Method for carrying out a starting process of an aircraft (2), in which a starting energy for the aircraft (2) is generated, characterized in that - an energy generator (3), which is designed separately from the flying car (2) and as an energy generating device, is connected directly to a propeller unit (10) of the flying car (2) by means of at least one deformable band (4), wherein - an external starting energy for a propeller (9) of the propeller unit (10) is generated by the deformable band (4) being automatically actuated by an attractor (5) of the energy generator (3), thereby increasing the speed of the propeller (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for performing a starting process of an aircraft, in which starting energy is generated for the aircraft. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for operating a corresponding aircraft.

[0002] DE 10 2016 123 254 A1 discloses a rotary-wing aircraft, also known as a gyrocopter, autogyro, or gyrocopter, with a rotor and a propeller. A takeoff and landing device for the rotary-wing aircraft has a stationary support on which a guide is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a takeoff position and a landing position. At its outer end region, a drive is arranged for transmitting an acceleration force to the rotary-wing aircraft, which can thus be generated independently of the rotary-wing aircraft's on-board drive. For this purpose, a coupling has a circumferential contact surface, which forms a positive pole of an electrical contact, and another contact surface on the front, which forms the negative pole. Such gyrocopters require a relatively high level of takeoff energy.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system with which a starting process of an aircraft can be made more efficient and, in particular, the range of flight operation of the aircraft can be increased.

[0004] This problem is solved by a method and a system according to the independent patent claims. Useful developments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for performing a starting process of an aircraft, in which starting energy is generated for the aircraft. An energy generator, which is designed separately from the aircraft and as an energy generation device, is connected directly to a propeller unit of the aircraft by at least one deformable band of the energy generator, whereby external starting energy for a propeller of the propeller unit is generated by the deformable band being automatically actuated by an attractor of the energy generator, thereby increasing the speed of the propeller. The external starting energy generated by the separately arranged energy generator can save energy from the internal energy storage of the aircraft, particularly during the starting process of the aircraft.This allows the energy storage system, or the energy stored in the energy storage system, of the flying vehicle to be used more extensively for flight operations. This significantly increases the range of the flying vehicle during flight operations. This is particularly advantageous if the flying vehicle has an electric drive. Electrical energy can then be saved during the takeoff process.

[0006] Such flying vehicles require a relatively large amount of starting energy for a single takeoff. In particular, a large amount of electrical energy is consumed by the flying vehicle for the takeoff of an upcoming flight if the flying vehicle has an electric drive. Since an energy storage device, especially an electrical one, of the flying vehicle has only limited capacity, a large amount of stored energy can be consumed during the takeoff process. This results in even less electrical energy being available for flight operations, reducing the range. This is improved by the invention.

[0007] An aircar is a means of transport that functions both as an aircraft and as an automobile. Specifically, an aircar is a multi-passenger means of transport that combines an aircraft and a land vehicle. It incorporates the functions of both an aircraft and a land vehicle, allowing it to participate in urban and rural individual road traffic like any other vehicle. In particular, unlike an aircraft, an aircar is a vehicle approved for operation on public roads.

[0008] The flying car can, for example, be constructed from several individual sub-modules. These sub-modules can be assembled in a modular manner. For example, the flying car consists of three sub-modules, one sub-module being the base module, which contains a vehicle chassis with, for example, autonomous vehicle control and / or wheels. The base module is, in particular, a self-propelled module on the ground. Another sub-module can be a capsule with a storage volume for people and / or objects. The sub-module can thus be a passenger cell or a cargo space. The capsule serves, in particular, as the vehicle interior for passenger transport. The third sub-module can be a quadcopter module, allowing the flying car to move in the air. In particular, these sub-modules of the flying car can be assembled or disassembled in a modular manner, depending on the current need for transport on the ground or in the air.When operating as a ground vehicle, the flying car may only have the capsule and the base module. When operating as a flight vehicle, the flying car may only have the capsule and the quadcopter module.

[0009] In particular, the energy generator is a unit stationed on the ground. An energy generator can be, for example, a power generation unit or a power generation device. The energy generator can be, for example, a pulling device or a cable pulling device.

[0010] The deformable band can be, for example, a hose or a rope.

[0011] The deformable band is preferably actuated by the energy generator until the flying vehicle lifts off the ground. In particular, the flying vehicle is in a state where it has not yet lifted off or is on the ground during actuation of the deformable band. With the aid of the actuated band, the speed of the propeller can be increased. In particular, the speed of the propeller is increased or brought to a corresponding value until the flying vehicle lifts off the ground. In particular, during the takeoff process of the flying vehicle, the energy generator and the propeller unit of the flying vehicle are directly connected to one another via the deformable band. This allows, in particular, the starting energy generated by the energy generator to be directly transferred to the propeller of the flying vehicle.In particular, the actuation of the deformable band can be adjusted depending on the current or target speed. As the propeller speed increases, the actuation of the deformable band can be reduced accordingly. By applying the external starting energy from the energy generator to the propeller, internal starting energy from an internal drive, in particular an electric drive, to drive at least one propeller of the flying vehicle can be dispensed with, at least in phases during the starting process.

[0012] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the propeller of the flying vehicle is brought from a standstill to a base speed by actuating the deformable band. The base speed can be lower than a takeoff speed at which the flying vehicle takes off. Before the takeoff process of the flying vehicle, it is in a rest state in which the propeller has a speed of zero. In particular, the propeller of the flying vehicle is at a standstill when the external takeoff energy begins to act on it. With the help of the confirmed deformable band, the speed of the propeller can be brought from zero to a predefined base speed. For example, the base speed is the speed at which the flying vehicle is immediately before a takeoff process from the ground.The base speed is in particular the speed generated by the external starting energy, so that the internal energy of the flying car can be saved.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the deformable band is directly connected to a propeller shaft of the propeller, whereby actuation of the deformable band causes the propeller shaft to rotate. By directly coupling the deformable band to the propeller shaft of the aircraft's propeller, actuation of the deformable band can apply external starting energy to the propeller. In particular, this allows the base rotational speed to be reached within a predefined time interval. For example, the deformable band can be attached to the propeller shaft using a receiving device. Actuation of the deformable band by the energy generator can generate rotational energy that causes the propeller shaft to rotate.

[0014] A deformable band is, in particular, a rollable band or a wound band. It is particularly stable in length. It is therefore not a longitudinally elastic band.

[0015] It is preferably provided that the deformable band is wound multiple times around the propeller shaft and, starting therefrom, when the deformable band is actuated by pulling on the wound deformable band, the deformable band is unwound from the propeller shaft and the propeller shaft is thereby set in rotation.

[0016] The deformable band can be wrapped around the propeller shaft depending on a length of the deformable band.

[0017] In particular, the pulling of the deformable band can be performed by the energy generator itself. Preferably, the energy generator comprises a motor. In particular, the energy generator comprises a pulling device that pulls the band coupled to the propeller unit. The pulling device is driven, in particular, by the motor.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that one end of the deformable band is connected to the energy generator by a puller or the pulling device, wherein upon actuation at this end of the deformable band is pulled by the puller, so that the unwinding of the deformable band from the propeller shaft takes place automatically.

[0019] In particular, the entire deformable band is always unwound from the propeller shaft. Only when the deformable band has been completely unwound by the puller can the flying car lift off the ground. This allows for a more efficient takeoff process.

[0020] For example, the deformable band is unwound from the propeller shaft by the tightener so that the deformable band is wound onto a drum of the energy generator.

[0021] Preferably, the deformable band is automatically decoupled from the propeller unit once the actuation is complete. This allows for an efficient takeoff process, since the deformable band is completely unwound from the propeller shaft but is not rewound onto the propeller shaft in the opposite direction. This also eliminates any potential braking forces acting on the propeller shaft. As soon as the flying vehicle enters flight mode, the deformable band is decoupled. For example, the energy generator can be automatically removed from a possible flight path of the flying vehicle.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the deformable band is automatically decoupled from the propeller unit at the latest when the flying vehicle takes off. This can prevent damage to the flying vehicle and the power generator caused by a deformable band that is not decoupled. This can also improve safety for the flying vehicle's occupants.

[0023] Preferably, a drive of the flying vehicle, in particular an electric drive, with which drive energy is generated internally for the propeller, only supplies drive energy to the propeller when a base speed of the propeller is reached by actuating the deformable band of the energy generator. In an advantageous embodiment, only once the propeller of the flying vehicle has been brought to the base speed with the aid of the actuated deformable band of the energy generator is the actual internal drive of the flying vehicle started. The base speed is in particular lower than a takeoff speed at which the flying vehicle enters flight mode and thus lifts off from the ground.For example, a sensor unit evaluates the current propeller speed. As soon as this speed reaches the base speed, a signal is transmitted to the aircraft's drive system, allowing it to continue driving the propeller with the propulsion energy. For example, the power generator can be switched off or deactivated when the aircraft's drive system is started.

[0024] Particularly when a propeller has to be driven from a standstill, a particularly large amount of drive energy or starting energy is required. It is precisely in this situation that the invention is very advantageous for conserving the internal energy of the flying vehicle, especially the internal electrical energy of an electric drive.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the deformable band is actuated by the energy generator at least until the flying vehicle takes off from a standing area of the flying vehicle. As soon as the flying vehicle takes off from a parking position or a position on the ground, a signal is transmitted to the energy generator so that the energy generator can be deactivated. In particular, the energy generator is automatically deactivated or switched off when the flying vehicle takes off. In particular, the deformable band is actuated by the energy generator until the flying vehicle takes off from the ground, a parking area, or a runway from a standstill to flight operation or transitions from a standstill to flight operation. In particular, the flying vehicle only takes off once the confirmation of the deformable band has been fully and completely carried out.Only when the deformable band is completely unwound from the propeller shaft can the flying car take off. In particular, this does not adversely affect the flying car's flight behavior immediately after takeoff.

[0026] A further aspect of the invention relates to a system for operating an aircraft, comprising an aircraft and a separate energy generator, which is designed as an energy generation device and is connected directly to a propeller unit of the aircraft by at least one deformable band, wherein the system is designed to carry out a method according to the above-mentioned aspect or an advantageous embodiment. In particular, the method is carried out using the system. In particular, an aircraft designed for flight operation or road operation can be used with the system. The aircraft has at least one propeller of a propeller unit, in particular at least two, in particular up to four propellers. The propeller is arranged on the aircraft via a propeller carrier. Preferably, a propeller is surrounded by a propeller housing, which is in particular ring-shaped.The propeller is thus enclosed and protected around its rotational axis. The energy generator is, in particular, a separate energy generator from the aircraft. It can be permanently stationed on the ground or be mobile. With the help of the energy generator, which, for example, has a cable pull device, actuation of a deformable band can be provided as external starting energy for a takeoff process of the aircraft. The energy generator can have a pulling device with which the deformable band can be unwound from a propeller shaft of the propeller unit. For example, the deformable band can be pulled from the propeller shaft using a puller.

[0027] For example, one end of the deformable band can be attached to the propeller shaft or to a cable receiving unit of the propeller unit.

[0028] The deformable band can be, for example, a rope or a hose.

[0029] For example, the propeller carrier of the flying vehicle can be pivotable, whereby the propeller or the propeller housing is rotatably mounted, allowing a 180° movement of the propeller housing. The flying vehicle particularly comprises a drive or an aircraft engine with which internal drive energy for the propeller can be generated. The drive energy for the propeller is only supplied by the drive when a base speed of the propeller has been reached by actuating the deformable band of the energy generator. The drive can be an electric drive or have an electric drive as a drive component.

[0030] The invention also includes further developments of the system according to the invention, which has features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the system according to the invention are not described again here.

[0031] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0032] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. The single figure shows a schematic representation of an external power generator for an aircraft.

[0033] The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual, independently considered features of the invention, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are thus also to be considered as components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0034] In the figure, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0035] The figure shows a system 1 for operating an aircraft 2. System 1 comprises aircraft 2 and a separate energy generator 3 for actuating a deformable band 4 as external starting energy. System 1 includes a puller 5 for pulling the deformable band 4 by the energy generator 3. Energy generator 3 can be, for example, a power generation unit or a power generation device. In particular, the energy generator can be designed as a cable pull device.

[0036] The deformable band can be, for example, a rope or a hose.

[0037] The flying car 2 is, for example, a modularly constructed flying car 2 that can operate in flight or on land or on the road. In particular, the flying car 2 is also approved for road traffic. For example, the flying car 2 has a quadcopter module 6, a capsule 7, and a self-propelled base module 8 on the ground. The capsule 7 serves in particular as a passenger transport module or as a storage module. The quadcopter module 6 can be used to operate the flying car 2 in flight. The flying car 2 comprises at least one propeller 9 of a propeller unit 10, which is arranged in a propeller housing 11.

[0038] The flying vehicle 2 can have multiple propellers 9. For example, the flying vehicle 2 has up to four propellers 9. The propeller 9 or the propeller housing 11 is coupled or connected to the flying vehicle 2 or to the quadcopter module 6 of the flying vehicle 2 by a propeller carrier 12. The propeller unit 10 is formed by a propeller 9, and in particular a propeller shaft 13, and in particular a propeller housing 11, and in particular by a propeller carrier 12.

[0039] In particular, the energy generator 3 in question generates external starting energy for a takeoff process of the flying vehicle 2. This external starting energy is therefore not generated by the flying vehicle 2 itself or by an internal drive 14 of the flying vehicle 2. As external starting energy, the deformable band 4 is actuated with the aid of the energy generator 3. The deformable band 4 is, in particular, attached in a defined manner to the propeller shaft 13 of the propeller 9. In particular, the deformable band 4 is directly connected to the propeller shaft 13. By actuating the deformable band 4, the speed of the propeller 9 can be increased by setting the propeller shaft in rotation. In particular, the propeller 9 of the flying vehicle 2 can be brought from a standstill to a base speed with the deformable band 4. For example, the base speed is lower than a takeoff speed.The deformable band 4 can, for example, be wound multiple times around the propeller shaft 13 and when the deformable band 4 is actuated by pulling the tightener 5, the deformable band 4 can be unwound from the propeller shaft 13.

[0040] The flying car 2 has the internal drive 14. The drive 14 can be an electric drive. The drive 14 generates internal drive energy for the propeller 9. In particular, the drive 14 only generates the additional drive energy required for the propeller 9 when a base speed of the propeller 9 has been reached by the energy generator 3. The actuation of the deformable band 4 is preferably carried out by the energy generator 3 at least until the band 4 has been completely unwound from the propeller shaft 13. If this is not sufficient to enable takeoff, the further increase in the speed of the propeller 9 is contributed by internal drive energy. In particular, during the takeoff process of the flying car 2, the flying car 2 is propelled from a standstill of the propeller 9.

[0041] The deformable band 4 can be automatically tightened by the tightener 5 of the energy generator 3. The energy generator 3 or the deformable band 4 can be automatically removed from a flight path of the flying vehicle 2 when the flying vehicle 2 lifts off upwards. In particular, the deformable band 4 is completely unwound from the propeller shaft 13 at the latest when the flying vehicle 2 enters flight mode. In particular, the band 4 is decoupled from the propeller shaft 13 precisely at the time when it is completely unwound from the propeller shaft 13.

[0042] For example, the propeller carrier 12 can be pivotally mounted using a pivoting support arm. This allows the propeller 9, in particular, to be rotated 180 degrees.

[0043] The band 4 can generally be wound on the propeller shaft 13 with at least 10, in particular at least 20, in particular at least 30, in particular at least 40, in particular at least 50, in particular at least 60, in particular at least 70, in particular at least 80, in particular at least 90, in particular at least 100, windings before it is attracted to generate external starting energy. List of reference symbols 1 system 2 flying car 3 energy producers 4 deformable band 5 dressers 6 Quadcopter module 7 capsules 8 Basic module 9 propellers 10 Propeller unit 11 Propeller housing 12 propeller carriers 13 Propeller shaft 14 Drive 15 stand space

Claims

[1] Method for carrying out a starting process of an aircraft (2), in which a starting energy for the aircraft (2) is generated, characterized by , that - an energy generator (3), which is designed separately from the flying car (2) and as an energy generating device, is connected directly to a propeller unit (10) of the flying car (2) by means of at least one deformable band (4), wherein - an external starting energy for a propeller (9) of the propeller unit (10) is generated by the deformable band (4) being automatically actuated by an attractor (5) of the energy generator (3), thereby increasing the speed of the propeller (9). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the propeller (9) of the flying car (2) is brought from a standstill to a base speed by actuating the deformable band (4). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the deformable band (4) is directly connected to a propeller shaft (13) of the propeller (9), wherein the propeller shaft (13) is set in rotation by the actuation of the deformable band (4). [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized by that the deformable band (4) is wound multiple times around the propeller shaft (13) and when the deformable band (4) is actuated by pulling on the deformable band (4), the deformable band (4) is unwound from the propeller shaft (13) and the propeller shaft (13) is thereby set in rotation. [5] Method according to claim 4, characterized by that one end of the deformable band (4) is connected to the energy generator (3) by means of a puller (5), wherein upon actuation this end of the deformable band (4) is pulled by the puller (5), so that the unwinding of the deformable band (4) from the propeller shaft (13) takes place automatically. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized by that the deformable band (4) is automatically decoupled from the propeller unit (13) when the actuation is completed. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the deformable band (4) is automatically decoupled from the propeller unit (10) at the latest when the flying car (2) takes off. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a drive (14) of the flying car (2), with which drive energy for the propeller (9) is generated internally, only supplies drive energy for the propeller (9) when a base speed of the propeller (9) is reached by actuating the deformable band (4). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the actuation of the deformable band (4) is carried out by the energy generator (3) at least until the flying automobile (2) takes off from a standing surface (15) of the flying automobile (2). [10] System (1) for operating an air vehicle (2), with - a flying car (2) and - a separate energy generator (3), which is designed as an energy generation device and is connected by at least one deformable band (4) directly to a propeller unit (10) of the flying automobile (2), wherein the system (1) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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