Aircraft equipment for the transportation of multiple items
The aircraft efficiently transports multiple items by minimizing air resistance and optimizing loading/unloading processes, extending flight range and operational efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023565225
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-04-26
- Filing Date
- 2022-04-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing aircraft designs, such as quadcopters, are limited in their ability to transport multiple items efficiently due to high air resistance and require manual loading/unloading, restricting their flight range and operational efficiency.
The aircraft is designed to accommodate multiple items in a horizontal arrangement, minimizing air resistance through streamlined front surfaces and using multiple rope winches for efficient loading/unloading, allowing for detachable and gravity-assisted unloading.
This design enables efficient, energy-saving flights with extended range and rapid loading/unloading of multiple items, reducing air resistance and enhancing operational efficiency.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an aircraft having a transport device for accommodating and transporting a plurality of items, wherein the transport device has a plurality of accommodating devices, one of the items is detachably arranged in each of the accommodating devices, the accommodating device is movable to a transport position and a release position, at the transport position of the accommodating device, the item is fixed to the accommodating device, and at the release position, the item is separated from the accommodating device.
Background Art
[0002] As an aircraft for transporting items, a vertically takeoff and landing aircraft, for example, a so-called quadcopter is known. A quadcopter is an aircraft, and in this aircraft, four rotors or propellers arranged in one plane and acting downward in the vertical direction are used to generate lift. The forward movement of the quadcopter is generated by the inclination of the rotor plane. This aircraft can transport a certain loading weight over a predetermined distance according to each drive output. The reach distance is limited by the capacity of the storage battery that can be used according to each drive output and according to each accommodated loading weight.
[0003] From the prior art, an aircraft equipped with a rope winch arranged outside the aircraft is known, and items can be accommodated by this rope winch. Loading or unloading of the aircraft is typically performed by lowering the rope winch until it reaches the unloading location or until it reaches the unloading location, and the item is fixed using an accommodating device attached to the end of the rope of the rope winch. It is possible for the accommodating device to be configured as, for example, a hook, a snap ring, or a magnet at that time. In most cases, the fixing of items in the storage device of a rope winch is carried out by an operator standing on the ground in a manual process. Subsequently, the item is lifted using the rope winch to a position approximately below the aircraft, and at this position, the item also remains throughout the flight operation.
[0004] Aircraft known from the prior art are configured for the transport of only one item. Usually, only one rope winch is provided, and one item can be loaded or unloaded onto this rope winch throughout the loading or unloading process.
[0005] With the aircraft known from the prior art, only one item can be delivered at a time. Therefore, for a new loading of the aircraft, this aircraft needs to return to the starting point. Along with this, the economical flight operation of the item is restricted in intensity by the known aircraft.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] Providing an aircraft for the transport and delivery of multiple items is regarded as an object of the present invention, wherein this aircraft has aerodynamic characteristics.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by arranging these items one behind the other at the transport position of the storage device, below the aircraft, and in the horizontal flight direction of this aircraft. Due to the arrangement of the items one behind the other, the total area formed by the front surfaces of these items, which is oriented in the horizontal flight direction and is caused to flow in the direction opposite to this horizontal flight direction, results in being particularly small. Along with this, the air resistance generated throughout the horizontal flight attitude induced by the items is particularly small. In accordance with the present invention, these articles are advantageously oriented such that their front faces, which particularly have a small area, are directed in the horizontal flight direction. Accordingly, the air resistance in the horizontal flight direction is particularly small, and thus a particularly energy-saving flight operation can be performed, and a long flight time, and accordingly, a high reach of the aircraft 1 is made available for use. By arranging a plurality of articles one after another, a particularly efficient delivery operation for these articles can be performed using the aircraft according to the present invention.
Advantages of the Invention
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, it is intended that the unloading of the aircraft is performed by releasing the articles detachably arranged in the storage device at the release position of the storage device, and subsequently, by gravity movement and falling in the direction of the ground. For this purpose, first, the aircraft is moved near the ground, and subsequently, the unloading process is started. Optionally, in accordance with the present invention, it is also intended that the articles can be unloaded from a greater flight altitude. For this purpose, the articles have a fall braking device or a collision protection part in accordance with the present invention, and by these fall braking devices or collision protection parts, the falling speed and the impact during the collision of the articles on the ground are reduced. This enables a particularly rapid unloading process of the aircraft to be performed.
[0009] To achieve a particularly small air resistance of the aircraft and the articles during the entire flight operation, in an advantageous modification of the inventive concept, it is intended that these articles at the transport position of the storage device are arranged along an arrangement axis parallel to the horizontal flight direction of the aircraft. Accordingly, the area oriented in the horizontal flight direction and formed from the individual front faces is particularly small. Accordingly, a particularly long flight operation is feasible.
[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, in order to achieve a particularly small flow resistance, a plurality of said articles having different areas on the front face are arranged one behind the other such that the order of these articles is selected such that in the inflow direction opposite to the horizontal flight direction, the area of the front face of these articles (3) increases in order. Accordingly, the article having the smallest front face is arranged in front in the arrangement axis, and thus the flow resistance generated by the flow throughout the flight operation is particularly small. Accordingly, a particularly long flight operation of the aircraft is possible.
[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the aircraft according to the invention, it is intended that said article is configured as a transport container. Due to the intended shape of the transport container, the flow resistance generated by the article throughout the flight operation can be preset particularly well. For example, small and aerodynamically disadvantageous articles can be accommodated and surrounded within the transport container. According to the invention, the outer shape of the transport container is configured such that the front face of the transport container, which is directed towards the arrangement axis, is streamlined and in particular aerodynamically configured, and thus the flow resistance generated throughout the flight operation is small. Accordingly, a particularly long flight operation of the aircraft is possible.
[0012] In an advantageous variant of the invention, in order to maintain the arrangement of the transport containers one behind the other, and in particular the arrangement of the transport containers one behind the other along the arrangement axis, also throughout the flight operation, it is intended that said transport containers are in contact with each other at said transport position. For this purpose, each adjacent transport container selectively has a recess and / or a protrusion, which are in engagement with the recess or protrusion of the transport container adjacent to each of them, respectively, and thus the relative positions of two adjacent transport containers are maintained with respect to each other.
[0013] In an advantageous variant of the inventive concept, it is intended that the transport device has at least two rope winches in order to provide a particularly efficient loading or unloading process. By means of the rope winches, the goods fixed to this rope winch can be lowered particularly easily from the aircraft to the unloading location on the ground. Similarly, new goods can be fixed to the rope winch particularly easily and quickly in the vicinity of the ground and can be lifted up to the aircraft. Along with this, a particularly rapid loading process and unloading process are possible, and thus a particularly efficient flight operation of the aircraft according to the invention is possible. Advantageously, one item is fixed to each rope winch, and thus each item can be lowered to the unloading location without further depending on another item.
[0014] In an embodiment of the aircraft according to the invention, it is intended that at least two of the rope winches are arranged inside the fuselage of the aircraft in order to keep the flow resistance generated during the entire flight operation particularly small by means of the aircraft. Along with this, the components of the rope winch that are not fluidly adapted and generate a high flow resistance are protected from the flow generated during the entire flight operation.
[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, it is intended that a plurality of the rope winches are arranged one behind the other in the fuselage of the aircraft in the horizontal flight direction in order to be able to arrange the goods advantageously at the transport position of the storage device along the arrangement axis.
[0016] A further advantageous embodiment of the aircraft will be described based on the embodiment illustrated in the figures.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention
[0018] In FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of an aircraft 1 having a transport device 2 for accommodating and transporting three articles 3 is shown. The transport device 2 has a plurality of accommodating devices 4 not shown in FIG. 1. One of the articles 3 is detachably arranged in each of the accommodating devices. The accommodating device is movable to a transport position and a release position. At the transport position of the accommodating device, the article 3 is fixed to the accommodating device, and at the release position, the article 3 is separated from the accommodating device 4. These articles 3 are arranged one behind the other at the lower side 5 of the aircraft 1 and in the horizontal flight direction 6 of this aircraft 1 at the transport position of the accommodating device 4.
[0019] In FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of the aircraft 1 is shown in a side view. The transport device 2 has three rope winches 7, and these rope winches are arranged one behind the other in the horizontal flight direction 6 inside the fuselage 8 of the aircraft. One of the articles 3 is fixed to each of the rope winches 7, and at this time, these articles 3 are arranged at the lower side 5 of the aircraft 1 along an arrangement axis 9 oriented parallel to the horizontal flight direction 6 of the aircraft 1.
[0020] In FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of the aircraft 1 is shown in a front view. The transport device 2 is shown in the transport position. The three articles 3 have different dimensions. The three articles 3 are arranged one behind the other such that the order of these articles 3 is selected so that the area of the front surface of each of these articles 3 increases in the inflow direction opposite to the horizontal flight direction 6. Note that although this application relates to the invention described in the claims, it may also include the following as other aspects. 1. An aircraft (1) having a transport device (2) for accommodating and transporting a plurality of items, wherein the transport device (2) has a plurality of storage devices (4), wherein one of the items (3) is detachably arranged in each of the storage devices, wherein the storage device (4) is movable to a transport position and a release position, wherein the item (3) is fixed to the storage device (4) at the transport position of the storage device (4), and is separated from the storage device (4) at the release position. In the above aircraft (1), these items (3) are arranged one behind the other at the lower side (5) of the aircraft (1) and in the horizontal flight direction (6) of the aircraft (1) at the transport position of the storage device (4). The aircraft (1) is characterized by this. 2. The aircraft (1) according to 1 above, wherein at the transport position of the storage device (4), these items (3) are arranged along an arrangement axis (9) oriented parallel to the horizontal flight direction (6) of the aircraft (1). 3. The plurality of the items (3) having different areas on the front surface are arranged one behind the other such that the order of these items (3) is selected so that the areas of the front surfaces of these items (3) increase in the inflow direction opposite to the horizontal flight direction (6). The aircraft (1) according to 1 or 2 above is characterized by this. 4. The aircraft (1) according to any one of 1 to 3 above, wherein the item (3) is configured as a transport container. 5. The aircraft (1) according to any one of 1 to 4 above, wherein the transport containers are in contact with each other at the transport position. 6. The aircraft (1) according to any one of 1 to 5 above, wherein the transport device (2) has at least two rope winches (7). 7. The aircraft (1) according to any one of 1 to 6 above, wherein at least two of the rope winches (7) are arranged inside the fuselage of the aircraft. 8. The plurality of the rope winches (7) are arranged one behind the other in the fuselage (8) of the aircraft in the horizontal flight direction (6), and the aircraft equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 above is characterized by this.
Claims
1. An aircraft (1) having a transport device (2) for the accommodation and transport of a plurality of articles, wherein the transport device (2) has a plurality of storage devices (4), each storage device having one article (3) detachably arranged therein, the storage device (4) being movable to a transport position and a release position, wherein in the transport position of the storage device (4), the article (3) is fixed to the storage device (4), and in the release position, the article (3) is separated from the storage device (4), in the aircraft (1), these articles (3) are arranged one behind the other in the lower side (5) of the aircraft (1) and in the horizontal flight direction (6) of the aircraft (1) in the transport position of the storage device (4). The aircraft (1) is characterized in that.
2. The aircraft (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the transport position of the storage device (4), these articles (3) are arranged along an arrangement axis (9) oriented parallel to the horizontal flight direction (6) of the aircraft (1).
3. A plurality of articles (3) having different areas on the front surface are arranged one behind the other such that the order of these articles (3) is selected such that the front surface area of these articles (3) increases in the inflow direction opposite to the horizontal flight direction (6). The aircraft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.
4. The aircraft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the article (3) is configured as a transport container.
5. The aircraft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport containers are in contact with each other in the transport position.
6. The aircraft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport device (2) has at least two rope winches (7).
7. The aircraft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two rope winches (7) are arranged inside the fuselage of the aircraft.
8. The aircraft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of rope winches (7) are arranged one behind the other in the fuselage (8) of the aircraft in the horizontal flight direction (6).