TRANSPORT MODULE

Abstract

Disclosed is a transport module (1) for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft for transporting persons and/or loads, having a conveying pod (2) and a connection device (3) for connecting the conveying pod (2) to a flight: module (5). The connection device (3) has an elongate shaft (6), one end of which has a coupling device (4) and the other end of which is attached to the conveying pod (2).

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A transport module for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft for transporting persons and/or loads, wherein the transport module comprises a conveying pod and a connection device for connecting the conveying pod to a flight module, the connecting device comprising an elongate shaft, one end of which comprises a coupling device and the other end of which is attached to the conveying pod.

14. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the elongate shaft is extended in design, such that a safe vertical distance of the coupling device above the conveying pod is established.

15. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the elongate shaft is substantially rotationally symmetrical in design.

16. The transport module of claim 13, wherein a length of the elongate shaft and a height of the conveying pod together result in a combined height of at least 2.5 m above a standing surface of the conveying pod.

17. The transport module of claim 13, wherein a length of the elongate shaft and a height of the conveying pod together result in a combined height of at least 3 m above a standing surface of the conveying pod.

18. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the conveying pod is shaped substantially like a droplet.

19. The transport module of claim 13, wherein an attaching area of the conveying pod for attaching the elongate shaft comprises a cross-sectional taper for transitioning to a cross section of the elongate shaft.

20. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the conveying pod comprises a charging module.

21. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the coupling device is implemented as a coupling counterpart of a hinged coupling between a flight module for coupling and the transport module.

22. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the coupling device is controllable.

23. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the transport module comprises a fiber composite material or consists of a fiber composite material.

24. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the elongate shaft and/or the conveying pod comprises a fiber composite material or consists of a fiber composite material.

25. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the transport module further comprises a stand device.

26. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the conveying pod comprises a stand device.

27. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the transport module further comprises one or more air guide devices.

28. The transport module of claim 13, wherein the conveying pod comprises one or more air guide devices.

Description

[0065] Further advantages of the present invention are evident from the drawings and the associated description. Shown in the drawings are:

[0066] FIG. 1 an exemplary depiction of a transport module;

[0067] FIG. 2 an exemplary depiction of a transport module having a flight module coupled thereto;

[0068] FIG. 3 a schematic depiction of a side view of a transport module;

[0069] FIG. 4 a schematic depiction of a further side view of a transport module;

[0070] FIG. 5 a schematic depiction of a side view of a transport module having a flight module coupled thereto;

[0071] FIG. 6 a schematic depiction of a side view of a transport module having an air guide device; and

[0072] FIG. 7 a schematic depiction of a further side view of a transport module having further air guide devices.

[0073] In the examples explained below, reference is made to the attached drawings, said drawings being part of the examples and in which specific embodiments in which the invention can be implemented are shown for illustrative purposes. In this respect, directional terminology such as top, bottom, front, rear, forward, rearward, etc. are used with respect to the orientation of the described figures. Because components of the embodiments can be positioned in a plurality of different orientations, the directional terminology serves for illustrative purposes and is not limiting in any way.

[0074] It is understood that other embodiments can be used and that structural or logical changes can be made without deviating from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is understood that the features of the various embodiment examples described herein can be combined with each other unless otherwise specifically indicated. The following detailed description is therefore not to be understood in a limiting sense, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

[0075] Within the present description, the terms connected, attached, and coupled are used to describe a direct as well as an indirect connection, a direct or indirect attachment, and a direct or indirect coupling. In the figures, identical or similar elements have identical reference numerals wherever appropriate.

[0076] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary depiction of a transport module 1 for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft for transporting persons. The transport module 1 has a droplet-shaped conveying pod 2, wherein the droplet shape extends substantially vertically in the flight state of the aircraft (see FIG. 2). The droplet shape is reduced in width, as is also evident in FIGS. 1 and 2 and particularly in FIG. 4.

[0077] The conveying pod 2 comprises two opposite doors 8 through which the persons to be transported can enter and depart the conveying pod 2. The door panels of the doors 8 in the embodiment example are round in design but can also have any other arbitrary shape.

[0078] The doors 8 can be connected to the conveying pod by means of a device for displaceably connecting (schematically shown as a bracket holding the doors). The doors can be disposed on the conveying pod 2 for folding open or closed by means of a rotary hinge system, or for displacing by means of a rail system.

[0079] The conveying pod 2 is fully closed in design and has a partially transparent shell, so that persons can look out of the conveying pod 2.

[0080] The conveying pod 2 can optionally comprise a charging module having one or more rechargeable energy stores.

[0081] Seats equipped with safety belts and airbags; a climate control device; displays; and a communication device for communicating with the flight module, other aircraft, or a ground destination are disposed in the interior of the conveying pod (not shown).

[0082] The conveying pod 2 can be connected to a flight module 5 by means of a connecting device 3. to this end, the connecting device 3 comprises an elongate, rotationally symmetrical shaft 6, one end thereof comprising the coupling device 4 and the other end thereof attaching to the conveying pod 2.

[0083] The shaft 6 is elongate in design, such that a safe vertical distance 7 is produced between the conveying pod 2 and the coupling device 4. The safe vertical distance 7 is determined by the length of the shaft 6. The safe vertical distance 7 or the length of the shaft 6, together with the height of the conveying pod 2, has a height of 3 m above a surface on which the conveying pod 2 stands, wherein the conveying pod 2 has a height of 2 m, for example, and the safe vertical distance 7 or the length of the shaft 6 is 1 m.

[0084] The shaft 6 and the conveying pod 2 comprise a fiber composite material, such as a carbon fiber or glass fiber reinforced plastic, whereby the transport module 1 is characterized by a low mass and simultaneously very good mechanical properties.

[0085] The coupling device 4 is implemented as a coupling counterpart of a hinged coupling between a flight module 5 for coupling and the transport module 1. The corresponding coupling part is thereby disposed on the flight module 5, so that the transport module 1 and the flight module 5 can be coupled to each other and can assume a flexible inclination relative to each other.

[0086] The coupling device 4 can be controllable in design, so that a connection between the transport module 1 and the flight module 5 can be produced or released intentionally, for example automatically.

[0087] FIG. 2 shows the transport module 1 of FIG. 1 having the flight module 5 coupled thereto, wherein the transport module 1 and the flight module 5 together form the aircraft. The transport module 1 is disposed centered below the flight module 5 and can be placed on a standing surface by means of a stand device, not shown here, of the transport module 1. The flight module 5 comprises a plurality of drive units 10 disposed in a plane on supporting structure 9, wherein the supporting structure 9 comprises supporting beams 11 connected to each other at nodes and each drive unit 10 comprises an electric motor and a propeller operatively connected to the electric motor. The transport module 1 can be lifted off the ground and transported by means of the flight module 5, wherein the stand device is folded against the conveying pod when taking off.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows the transport module 1 of FIG. 1 in a schematic side view. In addition to the components described in conjunction with FIG. 1, the safe vertical distance 7 determined by the length of the shaft 6 is evident from FIG. 3.

[0089] FIG. 4 shows the transport module 1 of FIG. 1 in a further schematic side view from a perspective rotated 90 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 6 in comparison with FIG. 3.

[0090] FIG. 5 shows the transport module 1 having the flight module 5 coupled thereto according to FIG. 2 in a schematic side view, wherein the components described for FIG. 2 are evident.

[0091] FIG. 6 shows a transport module 1 comprising an air guide device 12. Said device is implemented in a wing-like manner as a vertically oriented flat plate and mount on a back side opposite the travel flight direction of the transport module 1 (FIG. 6: the flight direction of the transport module 1 is in the plane of the drawing, and the transport module 1 travels toward the right). The air guide device 12 acts as a tail, maintaining the transport module 1 in a stable orientation relative to the vertical or longitudinal axis thereof during flight.

[0092] The air guide device 12 can be attached to the transport module 1 in a stationary or rotatable manner. The position of the air guide device 12 relative to the transport module 1 can also be displaceable, for example extended or retracted linearly.

[0093] Further air guide devices 12 can be mounted in order to bring about further stabilizing effects or improvements in air flow at the transport module 1.

[0094] FIG. 7 shows a transport module 1 having two further air guide devices 12 serving as lift aids for generating additional lift of the transport module 1 during flight travel (forward flight) of the transport module 1.

[0095] The air guide devices 12 each comprise a wing having a plate shape or slightly curved, wherein the plane of the plate extends in the flight direction of the transport module 1 (FIG. 7: flight direction of the transport module 1 is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), so that only the cross section of the flat wing is evident in FIG. 7 as a line.

[0096] The air guide devices 12 can be attached in the lower region of the conveying pod 2 by means of two mounting brackets 13, wherein the mounting brackets 13 can be rotatably supported on the conveying pod 2 and the wings on one mounting bracket 13 each. The mounting brackets 13 can follow the shape of the lower region of the conveying pod 2. The air guide devices 12 can thereby be folded closely against the conveying pod 2 and, when needed, folded out far from the same (FIG. 7: dotted line with double arrow).

[0097] When taking off or landing, the wings are folded against the conveying pod 2, in order to generate as little negative influence on the air flow as possible. During flight travel (forward flight) of the transport module 1, the wings can be folded out and, due to the aerodynamic lift thereof, help to support the transport module 1, so that less overall support work needs to be performed and thus more power is available for forward flight.

[0098] The wings are preferably disposed in the lower region of the transport module because the influence of the downdraft of the propellers of a flight module 5 (not shown) connected to the transport module 1 is the least.

[0099] All air guide devices 12 of the embodiments according to FIGS. 6 and 7 can be implemented for controlled adjusting of the alignment thereof to the conveying pod 2 of the transport module 1, so that the function can be optimally adapted to the flow conditions, etc., during flight operation.

[0100] The expression and/or used here, when used in a series of two or more elements, indicates that each of the listed elements can be used alone, or any combination of two or more of the listed elements can be used.

[0101] For example, if a relationship is described comprising components A, B, and/or C, the relationship can comprise the components A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0102] 1 Transport module [0103] 2 Conveying pod [0104] 3 Connection device [0105] 4 Coupling device [0106] 5 Flight module [0107] 6 Shaft [0108] 7 Safe vertical distance [0109] 8 Door [0110] 9 Supporting structure [0111] 10 Drive unit [0112] 11 Supporting beam [0113] 12 Air guide device [0114] 13 Mounting bracket