Electromagnetic Catapult for Aircraft Takeoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large airports in populated areas face constraints in expanding capacity due to land and airspace limitations, leading to increased costs and delays, as well as environmental concerns, with existing runway expansion methods being inefficient and environmentally impactful.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical thrust assembly using a sled and electromagnetic catapult system that accelerates aircraft using ground-based energy, allowing for shorter takeoff lengths and higher velocities, reducing taxi times and increasing airport throughput without the need for additional land or increased fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If aircraft use larger engines and stronger landing gear to handle increased mass, then aircraft can carry more passengers and freight, but takeoff runway length increases and tire specifications limit takeoff velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system of aircraft engines accelerating the aircraft along the runway with an electromagnetic catapult system. The catapult uses electromagnetic forces to accelerate the aircraft to takeoff velocity, eliminating the need for long runway distances and reducing the mass constraints on aircraft design.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic catapult system operates in periodic cycles, accelerating multiple aircraft sequentially through the use of electromagnetic launchers positioned along the runway. This allows continuous high-throughput operations without requiring excessively long runway lengths for each individual takeoff.
2Productivity
If airports add additional runways or extend existing runways to increase capacity, then more aircraft can be accommodated, but land acquisition costs increase and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic catapult system enables vertical or short-distance takeoffs, allowing aircraft to become airborne much faster and clear the runway sooner. This increases the number of takeoffs and landings that can occur on the same runway simultaneously, effectively doubling or tripling airport capacity without expanding land area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the electromagnetic field strength and acceleration profiles to optimize takeoff performance for different aircraft weights and configurations. This allows efficient use of existing runway infrastructure across a wide range of aircraft types without requiring additional land.
3Productivity
If aircraft taxi longer distances to reach runways at congested airports, then more aircraft can be served, but fuel consumption increases and emissions worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic catapult system enables aircraft to takeoff from positions much closer to the terminal, eliminating long taxi distances. Aircraft can be positioned near the catapult launch point and accelerated directly into the air, reducing ground-based fuel consumption and emissions.
4Speed
If electromagnetic catapult system accelerates aircraft to higher velocities, then takeoff distance decreases and airport capacity increases, but energy consumption by the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic catapult system recovers energy from the aircraft's kinetic energy during deceleration after takeoff or during aborted takeoffs. This recovered energy is stored and reused for subsequent launches, significantly reducing the net energy consumption of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The catapult system operates in periodic cycles with multiple electromagnetic launchers firing in sequence. This distributed periodic action allows energy to be delivered in manageable pulses rather than requiring a single massive energy input, optimizing the energy efficiency of the acceleration process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances airport capacity, reduces taxi and takeoff times, decreases fuel usage, and minimizes environmental impact by enabling higher lift forces and reduced wake size, thereby increasing passenger and freight throughput while reducing noise and pollution.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic catapult (e.g., mounted to, or integrated in, an aircraft runway) includes a series of magnets, which can be activated in a sequence to propel the sled along the desired path
Implementation Method 2
The sled is levitated above the ground surface using magnetic forces generated by a high-density permanent magnet array
Implementation Method 3
The operational control subsystem is designed to provide power switching times and duration to the series of magnets, thereby creating a magnetic field to lift and accelerate the sled
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for ground-based aircraft thrust systems are provided. In particular, some embodiments use an electromechanical thrust assembly to accelerate aircraft using ground-based energy for takeoff. The assembly can include one or more sleds, one or more maglev tracks, and/or one or more linear motors. Airplanes are loaded onto a sled (e.g., a saddle-shaped sled) that supports and balances the airplane instead of the landing gear aboard the aircraft. The sled levitates above the ground using high-density permanent magnet arrays. Magnetic levitation forces are varied along the assembly to account for lift provided by airflow over the wings. An aircraft thrust system includes a magnetically levitated saddle-shaped sled with airbags that support an aircraft during takeoff acceleration coupled with a linear motor that spans the length of the distance needed for takeoff.