The invention relates in particular to an energy unit (1) for producing an operating material on board a vehicle, comprising a fuel cell unit (2) with at least one fuel cell (3) and a mobile storage unit (5), which is formed separately from the fuel cell unit (2), with a store (6) for storing at least one energy source necessary for operation of the fuel cell unit (2). The mobile storage unit (5) and the fuel cell unit (2) can be coupled with one another, wherein, in the state coupled to one another, at least one first terminal (7) of the mobile storage unit (5) is connected to a corresponding second terminal (8) of the fuel cell unit (2) in such a way that at least the at least one energy source can be supplied from the store (6) to the fuel cell (3).

An aircraft is provided and includes a fuselage, first and second wings extending outwardly from opposite sides of the fuselage, proprotors operably disposed on each of the first and second wings to drive vertical take-off and landing aircraft operations and horizontal flight aircraft operations and a refueling system including at least one fuel tank disposed in at least one or more of the fuselage, the first wing or the second wing and a refueling apparatus. The refueling apparatus is coupled to the at least one fuel tank such that fuel is movable with respect to the at least one fuel tank during aircraft ground and aerial operations.

This disclosure relates to various seals for sealing around exhaust pipes, such as the exhaust pipe of an aircraft auxiliary power unit. The seal can include a collar portion bounding an opening that is configured to receive the exhaust pipe. The seal can include a shroud portion connected to the collar portion and extending radially outward therefrom. The seal can be configured to inflate and/or deflate to facilitate installation and/or removal of the seal from the exhaust pipe.

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique vehicle. Another embodiment is a unique propulsion system. Yet another embodiment is a unique system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for vehicle propulsions systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

An auxiliary power unit (APU) for aircraft is provided. The APU includes one or more battery modules for storing electrical power and an integrated controller adapted to operate the one or more battery modules for electrically powering aircraft subsystems for preflight readiness. A remote interface is communicatively coupled with the integrated controller and is adapted for displaying data from the APU and for receiving user instructions for transmission to the integrated controller for governing flow of electrical current between the APU and the aircraft subsystems.

A distributed auxiliary-power-unit (APU) system for an aircraft includes one or more battery modules for storing electrical power, and a plurality of racks distributed throughout the aircraft for receiving the one or more battery modules to electrically connect with an electrical subsystem of the aircraft. A plurality of hot-swappable racks are adapted to receive the battery modules for electrically and communicatively coupling with the electrical subsystem and an integrated controller. A remote interface is communicatively coupled with the integrated controller for receiving user-input to direct electrical power from the battery modules to one or more subsystems of the aircraft. A number of battery modules installed is based on an amount of electrical power planned for a given flight of the aircraft.

An expedited preflight readiness system for aircraft includes a power source having one or more battery modules for storing electrical power. An integrated controller is electrically and communicatively coupled with the power source for monitoring and controlling the power source to provide electrical power to aircraft subsystems. A mobile device is communicatively coupled with the integrated controller for communicating instructions to the integrated controller for initiating preflight readiness of the aircraft and for monitoring preflight readiness. A method for preconditioning an aircraft includes determining a state-of-charge of an APU and activating an environmental control subsystem for preconditioning the aircraft by adjusting a current temperature according to a preconditioning profile based on one or more of a target temperature, a target time, the current temperature, an outside air temperature, an amount of energy, and a state-of-charge of the APU.

An expedited preflight readiness system for aircraft includes a power source having one or more battery modules for storing electrical power. An integrated controller is electrically and communicatively coupled with the power source for monitoring and controlling the power source to provide electrical power to aircraft subsystems. A mobile device is communicatively coupled with the integrated controller for communicating instructions to the integrated controller for initiating preflight readiness of the aircraft and for monitoring preflight readiness. A method for preconditioning an aircraft includes determining a state-of-charge of an APU and activating an environmental control subsystem for preconditioning the aircraft by adjusting a current temperature according to a preconditioning profile based on one or more of a target temperature, a target time, the current temperature, an outside air temperature, an amount of energy, and a state-of-charge of the APU.

An electric power generation controller for use in an aircraft to control an electric power generating apparatus including a manual transmission which changes speed of rotational power of an aircraft engine, transmits the rotational power to an electric power generator, and includes a plurality of gear stages. The electric power generation controller includes: a rotational frequency receiving section configured to receive an input rotational frequency or an output rotational frequency of the manual transmission as a monitoring rotational frequency; and a manual transmission control section configured to, when the monitoring rotational frequency exceeds a first threshold, output a shift-down signal to perform shift-down from an upper stage to a lower stage, and when the monitoring rotational frequency falls below a second threshold, output a shift-up signal to perform shift-up from the lower stage to the upper stage, the first threshold being set to a value larger than the second threshold.

A load bearing element for attachment of a heat generating unit to a heat sensitive supporting structure, wherein said load bearing element includes at least one body integrally formed by additive layer manufacturing, ALM. The body is adapted to provide a controlled heat transfer from said heat generating unit to said heat sensitive supporting structure.