Vertical take-off aircraft, procedures for operating a vertical take-off aircraft

Abstract

A vertically launching aircraft (1) comprising a guide propeller (2) is proposed, wherein the guide propeller (2) is provided for pivoting about a pivot axis (P) arranged parallel to a lateral axis (Y) of the aircraft (1), and wherein, in addition to pivoting, the guide propeller (2) is movable along a translational axis (T) whose principal directional component is arranged parallel to the vertical axis (Z) of the aircraft (2). Furthermore, a method is proposed.

Description

The present invention relates to a vertical takeoff aircraft having a pivotable lead propeller and to a method for operating a vertical takeoff aircraft.Vertically takeoff aircraft are known from the prior art. Typically, vertically takeoff aircraft have at least one pivotable guide propeller. At launch, the lead propeller is arranged to generate an airflow along the vertical axis of the vertical launch aircraft to push and lift the vertical launch aircraft away from the ground. In this orientation of the guide propeller, the vertical takeoff aircraft can be in the air or move up and down without having to perform a movement along the longitudinal axis for this purpose.For a movement along the longitudinal axis of the vertical-takeoff aircraft, in particular for a forward movement, the guide propeller is pivoted in such a way that air is conveyed through the guide propeller from the front, i.e. an air flow is generated from the front to the rear along the longitudinal axis of the vertical-takeoff aircraft.For the transition from a movement along the longitudinal axis to an operation without movement along the longitudinal axis, i.e. for example for floating or landing, the guide propeller is pivoted back again, so that the guide propeller has an air flow arranged along the vertical axis.It has proven to be problematic that, when the guide propeller is pivoted, the air flow through the fuselage or the wings of the vertical-takeoff aircraft is blocked or at least subjected to an air resistance.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vertical takeoff aircraft and a method for operating a vertical takeoff aircraft in which the described disadvantages of the prior art do not occur and in which an aerodynamically skillful pivoting of the guide propeller is possible.This object is achieved by claims 1 and 6.The inventive vertically takeoff aircraft has a guide propeller which can be pivoted about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is arranged parallel to a transverse axis of the vertically takeoff aircraft.In addition to the pivoting, the guide propeller can be moved along a translation axis, the main directional component of which is arranged parallel to the vertical axis of the vertical-takeoff aircraft.This makes it possible to move the guide propeller along the translation axis in such a way that the fuselage or the wings of the vertical-takeoff aircraft generate as little wind shadow as possible.Advantageous embodiments and further features of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims and from the description with reference to the drawings.According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the movement along the translation axis can be carried out independently of the pivoting about the pivot axis. This offers a high flexibility, which allows a good adjustment of the orientation of the guide propeller for pivoting or even during pivoting.According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the vertical takeoff aircraft is an electrically operated vertical takeoff aircraft. In particular, it is provided that the vertically starting aircraft is battery-operated. This enables very quiet and environmentally friendly operation of the vertical takeoff aircraft.Preferably, it is provided that the guide propeller is arranged in the rear half of the vertically starting aircraft and preferably in the rear quarter of the vertically starting aircraft. This enables stable flight operation and efficient use of the guide propeller of the vertical-takeoff aircraft. It is conceivable for the vertically takeoff aircraft to have one or more additional guide propellers. In particular, it is conceivable that all features and details disclosed in connection with the guide propeller and its arrangement also relate to the further guide propeller or propellers.According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the lead propeller can be arranged in a cruise mode, wherein the lead propeller is arranged in the cruise mode such that an air flow from below a fuselage and / or a wing of the vertical-takeoff aircraft is conducted into the lead propeller from the front side of the vertical-takeoff aircraft. Further, the lead screw may be arranged in a high speed mode, wherein the lead screw is arranged in the high speed mode such that an airflow from above the fuselage and / or the wing is directed into the lead screw from the front of the vertical takeoff aircraft. The lead propeller is arranged higher along the translation axis in the high-speed mode than in the cruise mode. This has the very advantageous effect that in high-speed mode, air is drawn into the guide propeller via aerodynamically acting surfaces, in particular via wings, which significantly increases the lift of the vertical-starting aircraft.A further object of the present invention for solving the problem initially expressed is a method for operating a vertically starting aircraft according to the invention, wherein the guide propeller is arranged further up or further down along the translation axis depending on the operating mode of the vertically starting aircraft. The method according to the invention significantly improves the operation of the vertical-takeoff aircraft, since it is possible to position the lead propeller according to requirements along the translation axis. Thus, it is possible to avoid aerodynamic problems occurring during the pivoting of the guide propeller, for example due to wind shadows of the fuselage or the wings.According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the guide propeller is pivoted about the pivot axis and moved upwards along the translation axis during a transition from an operating mode in which the guide propeller generates an air flow along the longitudinal axis of the vertical-starting aircraft to a levitation mode in which the guide propeller generates an air flow along the vertical axis of the vertical-starting aircraft. This prevents at least partial blockage of the air flow into the guide propeller.Preferably, the guide propeller is first moved along the translation axis and then pivoted. Alternatively, the guide propeller is preferably moved and pivoted simultaneously along the translation axis.In particular, it is provided that the guide propeller is arranged in a cruise mode such that the air flow from the front side of the vertical-takeoff aircraft is guided along the longitudinal axis into the guide propeller from below the fuselage. In a high speed mode, the ductor propeller is arranged such that the air flow from the front side of the vertical takeoff aircraft is directed into the ductor propeller from above a fuselage along the longitudinal axis, wherein the ductor propeller is arranged higher along the translation axis in the high speed mode than in the cruise mode. This advantageously makes it possible to set the arrangement of the guide propeller as required. In particular in high-speed mode, this embodiment offers the advantage that air is conducted over aerodynamically acting parts of the vertically starting aircraft and thus contributes, for example, to the lift.Preferably, the lead propeller is electrically operated.All the details, features and advantages disclosed above within the scope of the inventive perpendicularly starting aircraft relate equally to the inventive method.Further details, features and advantages of the invention are evident from the drawings and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not limit the spirit of the invention.Figures 1a) through 1d) schematically illustrate a vertical takeoff aircraft in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Referring now to FIGS. 1a) through 1d), vertical takeoff aircraft 1 are shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The vertical-launch aircraft 1 has a guide propeller 2 which can be pivoted about a pivot axis P. The pivot axis P is arranged parallel to the transverse axis Y of the vertical takeoff aircraft 1.By pivoting the guide propeller 2, the direction of an air flow 4 which is generated during operation of the guide propeller 2 changes. In FIG. 1 d), the guide propeller 2 is pivoted such that the air flow 4 generated by it is directed against the vertical axis Z of the vertical-takeoff aircraft 1. Depending on the power of the guide propeller 2, the vertical-launch aircraft 1 can thus float or remain in the air on a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y, while moving up or down along the vertical axis Z. In this position of the guide propeller 2, the vertical-launch aircraft 1 is in the hovering mode.FIG. 1 a) shows the vertical takeoff aircraft 1 in a cruise mode. The guide propeller 2 is pivoted, so that air is drawn in from the front. The air flow 4 runs from the front below the fuselage 3 of the vertical-takeoff aircraft 1 in the direction of the guide propeller 2, which generates a drive along the longitudinal axis X. The aerodynamically acting fuselage 3 and / or the wings not shown here generate a lift 5.For the transition between cruise and levitation operation, the guide propeller 2 must be pivoted. During the swinging operation, the fuselage 3 or the wings are positioned in front of the guide propeller 2 so as to cause disturbance of the air flow 4 or even block the air flow 4. In order to prevent this, it is provided that the guide propeller 2 is displaceable along a translation axis T, the main directional component of which is arranged along the vertical axis Z of the vertical-takeoff aircraft 1. This is shown in FIG. 1 c).Before or during the pivoting of the guide propeller 2 about the pivot axis P, the guide propeller 2 is brought into a position in which no or less aerodynamic problems during the pivoting are to be expected. For example, during the transition from the cruise mode to the levitation mode, the guide propeller 2 is moved upwards, so that air is drawn in from above the fuselage 3. This has the further advantage that the guide propeller 2 is relatively far away from the ground 6 in the levitation mode and thus fewer ground effects are to be expected.Moreover, the vertical takeoff aircraft 1 can be operated in a high-speed mode, as shown in FIG. 1 b). The guide propeller 2 draws in air from above the fuselage 3 or the wings, so that the air flow 4 sweeps over aerodynamically acting parts and brings about further lift 5.

Claims

Vertical takeoff aircraft (1) comprising a lead propeller (2), the lead propeller (2) being provided for pivoting about a pivot axis (P) which is arranged parallel to a transverse axis (Y) of the aircraft (1), characterized in that the lead propeller (2) is movable, in addition to the pivoting, along a translation axis (T) whose principal directional component is arranged parallel to the vertical axis (Z) of the aircraft (2).Vertical-launch aircraft (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movement along the translation axis (T) can be carried out independently of the pivoting about the pivot axis (P).Vertical takeoff aircraft (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical takeoff aircraft (1) is an electrically operated vertical takeoff aircraft (1).Vertical takeoff aircraft (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lead propeller (2) is arranged in the rear half of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1) and preferably in the rear quarter of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1).The vertical takeoff aircraft (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lead propeller (2) can be arranged in a cruise mode, wherein the lead propeller (2) is arranged in the cruise mode such that an air flow from below a fuselage (3) and / or a wing of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1) is guided into the lead propeller (2) from the front side of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1), wherein the lead propeller (2) can be arranged in a high-speed mode, wherein the lead propeller (2) is arranged in the high-speed mode such that an air flow from above the fuselage (3) and / or the wing is guided into the lead propeller (2) from the front side of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1), wherein the lead propeller (2) is arranged higher along the translation axis (T) in the high-speed mode than in the cruise mode.Method for operating a vertical-takeoff aircraft (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide propeller (2) is arranged further upward or further downward along the translation axis (T) as a function of the operating mode of the vertical-takeoff aircraft (1).Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the lead propeller (2) is pivoted about the pivot axis (P) and moved upwards along the translation axis (T) during a transition from an operating mode in which the lead propeller (2) generates an air flow along the longitudinal axis (X) of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1) to a levitation mode in which the lead propeller (2) generates an air flow along the vertical axis (Z) of the vertical takeoff aircraft (1), wherein the lead propeller (2) is preferably first moved along the translation axis (T) and then pivoted, or wherein the lead propeller (2) is preferably simultaneously moved and pivoted along the translation axis (T).Method according to claims 6 to 7, characterised in that the guide propeller (2) is arranged in a cruise mode such that the air flow along the longitudinal axis (X) is guided into the guide propeller (2) from below the fuselage (3) from the front side of the vertically starting aircraft (1), wherein the guide propeller (2) is arranged in a high-speed mode such that the air flow along the longitudinal axis (X) is guided into the guide propeller (2) from above a fuselage (3) from the front side of the vertically starting aircraft (1), wherein the guide propeller (2) is arranged higher along the translation axis (T) in the high-speed mode than in the cruise mode.Method according to claims 6 to 8, wherein the lead propeller (2) is electrically operated.

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