The disclosure relates to a propeller drive that is, in particular, an aircraft drive and includes a propeller machine and an electric drive connected without a converter to the propeller machine. The aircraft includes such a propeller drive.

A vertical take-off aircraft with a propulsion drive for generating a driving force being effective in a horizontal direction and with a lift drive for generating a lifting force being effective in a vertical direction includes a motor for providing mechanical energy for the propulsion drive and a first generator for providing electrical energy for the lift drive. Moreover, the aircraft includes an exhaust gas turbocharger for the motor with a first turbine being driven by an exhaust gas flow of the motor, wherein the first turbine is configured to provide mechanical energy for the propulsion drive.

This invention concerns an aircraft propulsion system in which an engine has an engine core comprising a compressor, a combustor and a turbine driven by a flow of combustion products of the combustor. At least one propulsive fan generates a mass flow of air to propel the aircraft. An electrical energy store is provided on board the aircraft. At least one electric motor is arranged to drive the propulsive fan and the engine core compressor. A controller controls the at least one electric motor to mitigate the creation of a contrail caused by the engine combustion products by altering the ratio of the mass flow of air by the propulsive fan to the flow of combustion products of the combustor. The at least one electric motor is controlled so as to selectively drive both the propulsive fan and engine core compressor.

A propeller propulsion unit, comprising at least one kinematic system comprising at least: a heat engine, an electrical energy generator, an electric motor configured to generate a rotary movement as output from the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generator, a drive and selection device configured to assume a first configuration, in which it is coupled to the output of the electric motor, and a second configuration, in which it is coupled to the main shaft of the heat engine, and a propeller rotated by the drive and selection device. Such a propeller propulsion unit with a hybrid engine allows more power to be provided and facilitates maintenance and ergonomics and is safer.

A rotorcraft capable of a hover mode and a forward cruise mode including a fuselage, a first electric propulsion system, a second electric propulsion system, and an electric power control unit to control power to the first and second electric propulsion systems in the hover and forward cruise modes. The first electric propulsion system is a tip jet cold flow system that imparts rotation on a pair of rotor blades disposed above a top surface of the fuselage, and a first electric motor configured to drive the tip jet cold flow system. The second electric propulsion system includes a propeller disposed in the rear of the fuselage and a second electric motor configured to drive the propeller.

An aircraft can include a frame and a plurality of electrical rotors coupled to the frame. The aircraft can further include a control system physically coupled to the frame and communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of electrical rotors. The control system can be configured to control a speed of each electrical rotor on an individual basis to control a direction of flight of the aircraft. The aircraft can further include an engine coupled to the frame, the engine being configured to combust a combustible fuel to generate thrust.

An electric propulsion system for a gas turbine engine may comprise an electric motor disposed within a nacelle of the gas turbine engine, wherein the electric motor is configured to receive a bypass air from a fan bypass duct for cooling the electric motor and the electric motor is configured to drive a low speed shaft of the gas turbine engine.

A system and method for operating a flying vehicle that includes a plurality of fan blades disposed on a first shaft. The shaft forms a rotor part of an electric motor. The shaft is coupled through a clutch assembly to a second shaft. The second shaft is coupled to a crankcase and to an internal combustion engine. The clutch assembly, motor and engine are all controlled by an on-board processor such that the processor controls the thrust provided by the fan blade by controlling operation of the motor and engine and clutch assembly. In operation the electric motor may be operated as a generator to recharge a power storage system. Moreover, a plurality of such hybrid-electric motors may be used to provide lift and propulsion for the flying vehicle.

An aspect provides an aircraft including a fuselage and a cross-flow fan system attached to the fuselage. The cross-flow fan system including a cross-flow fan assembly associated with a rotatable wing member having an exterior aerodynamic surface. In one aspect, there is provided an aircraft with a fuselage having a forward portion and an aft portion; a first cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the left side of the forward portion of the fuselage; a second cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the right side of the forward portion of the fuselage; a third cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the left side of the aft portion of the fuselage; and a fourth cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the right side of the aft portion of the fuselage.

A heat exchanger which may be used in an engine, such as a vehicle engine for an aircraft or orbital launch vehicle. is provided. The heat exchanger may be configured as generally drum-shaped with a multitude of spiral sections, each containing numerous small diameter tubes. The spiral sections may spiral inside one another. The heat exchanger may include a support structure with a plurality of mutually axially spaced hoop supports, and may incorporate an intermediate header. The heat exchanger may incorporate recycling of methanol or other antifreeze used to prevent blocking of the heat exchanger due to frost or ice formation.