Lightning protection structure of an aircraft

Abstract

This anti-lightning strike structure for a flying vehicle comprises: a lattice-shaped conductor 11 that surrounds a flying vehicle 100 so as to be spaced apart therefrom in order to not interfere with flight; an attachment part 12 that is for the lattice-shaped conductor 11 and that is connected between the conductor 11 and a section of the flying vehicle 100; and a conductor wire 13 that is connected between the lattice-shaped conductor 11 and a ground point on the ground.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lightning protection structure for a flying object.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, unmanned aircraft such as drones are known. Since unmanned aircraft fly outdoors, they are at high risk of encountering lightning strikes. Therefore, in Non-Patent Document 1, a direct lightning strike test is conducted in which a high-voltage current strikes directly during the flight of an unmanned aircraft. And it has been reported that the current passed through the body of the unmanned aircraft and reached the ground, and the unmanned aircraft became inoperable.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a lightning strike occurs on an unmanned aircraft, the unmanned aircraft malfunctions and becomes inoperable, so there is a possibility of human and material losses due to the fall of the unmanned aircraft.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of preventing a decrease in flight function and a fall due to a lightning strike on a flying object.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The lightning protection structure of an aircraft according to an aspect of the present invention includes a grid-shaped conductor that surrounds the aircraft with a distance that does not impede flight, an attachment portion for the conductor that is connected between the grid-shaped conductor and a part of the aircraft, and a conducting wire that is connected between the grid-shaped conductor and a ground grounding point.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the flight function and a crash of the aircraft due to lightning strikes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts and the description thereof is omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a lightning protection structure of a drone according to the present embodiment. The lightning protection structure of the drone includes a conductor 11, an attachment portion 12, a conducting wire 13, and control equipment 14.

[0011] The conductor 11 is a conductor that receives a lightning current from the sky instead of the drone 100. The conductor 11 is arranged to surround the drone 100 at a distance from the outside of the periphery of the drone 100 so as not to impede the flight of the drone 100 located inside. The conductor 11 has a grid shape as shown in FIG. 1. For example, the conductor 11 is composed of at least two ring-shaped wires. The overall shape of the conductor 11 is, for example, an elliptical shape, a spherical shape, or a rectangular shape.

[0012] Mounting portion 12 is a mounting portion for conductor 11 for mounting and fixing lattice-shaped conductor 11 to unmanned airplane 100. Mounting portion 12 is, for example, an insulating rod member. The rod member is connected between one point (part) of lattice-shaped conductor 11 and one point (part) of unmanned airplane 100. Multiple rod members may be connected to multiple points on unmanned airplane 100, but in order to eliminate the possibility of lightning current flowing into unmanned airplane 100, it is preferable to connect one rod member to only one point on unmanned airplane 100.

[0013] The conductor 13 is a conductor for transmitting the lightning current received by the grid-like conductor 11 to the ground. The conductor 13 is, for example, a conductor cable. The conductor cable is connected between the lower part of the grid-like conductor 11 and the input terminal of the control equipment 14 on the ground.

[0014] The control equipment 14 is used to control the lightning current that passes through the conductor 13. The control equipment 14 is installed on the ground. The control equipment 14 may be, for example, a lightning current interrupter, a lightning rod, a ground structure, or a ground ground. Any ground ground point is sufficient.

[0015] In other words, the lightning-resistant structure of the unmanned aircraft is configured so that the unmanned aircraft 100 is surrounded by a lattice-shaped conductor 11 placed outside the unmanned aircraft 100 at a distance that does not interfere with flight, the lattice-shaped conductor 11 is connected to the body of the unmanned aircraft 100 at one point, a conductor 13 is connected to the bottom of the lattice-shaped conductor 11, and the conductor 13 is connected to ground control equipment 14.

[0016] With this configuration, even if lightning strikes unmanned aircraft 100, the lightning current from the strike is received by lattice-shaped conductor 11 and flows to the ground via lower conductor 13. The lightning current is shunted by lattice-shaped conductor 11, and the electric fields caused by the current cancel each other out inside lattice-shaped conductor 11, so the effect of the lightning current on unmanned aircraft 100 can be minimized.

[0017] That is, due to the Faraday cage effect of the grid-shaped conductor 11 surrounding the outside of the unmanned aircraft 100, lightning strikes will not penetrate near the unmanned aircraft 11. The Faraday cage effect means that since the electric lines of force cannot penetrate into the interior surrounded by the conductor, the external electric field is blocked and the internal electric potential becomes equal. Also, since the lightning strike current flows in a grid pattern, the electric fields inside the grid cancel each other out from all directions, making it possible to extremely reduce the lightning strike current.

[0018] From the above, according to this embodiment, the lightning protection structure of the unmanned aircraft includes a grid-shaped conductor 11 that surrounds the unmanned aircraft 100 with a distance that does not impede flight, a mounting portion 12 for the conductor 11 that is connected between the grid-shaped conductor 11 and a part of the unmanned aircraft 100, and a conducting wire 13 that is connected between the grid-shaped conductor 11 and the ground control equipment 14. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the flight function and a crash of the unmanned aircraft 100 due to a lightning strike.

[0019] Finally, in this embodiment, an unmanned aircraft such as a drone has been described as an example, but the above lightning protection structure is applicable to flying objects to which it can be added. Flying objects include, for example, balloons, small manned aircraft, flying objects and flying things that fly at high altitudes.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0020] 11: Conductor 12: Mounting Portion 13: Conducting Wire 14: Control Equipment 100: Unmanned Aircraft

Claims

1. A grid-like conductor that surrounds the flying object at a distance that does not impede flight, One insulating attachment part for the conductor that is connected only between one point of the grid-like conductor and one point of the flying object, A conducting wire that is connected between the grid-like conductor and the grounding point on the ground, A lightning protection structure for a flying object comprising the above.

2. The flying object is The lightning protection structure of the flying object according to Claim 1, which is a drone.

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