Aircraft and Modular Propulsion Unit

Abstract

An aircraft comprising a wing; a tractor propulsion means (TPM); a pusher propulsion means (PPM); a cruising propulsion means (CPM); and wherein the TPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein the PPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein the CPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust being in a forward propelling direction; and wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to the wing, and wherein the TPM is located in fore of the wing and the PPM is located in aft of the wing.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising a wing; a tractor propulsion means (TPM); a pusher propulsion means (PPM); a cruising propulsion means (CPM); and wherein the TPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward and propelling direction; and wherein the PPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward and propelling direction; and wherein the CPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust being in a forward propelling direction; and wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to the wing, and wherein the TPM is located in fore of the wing and the PPM is located in aft of the wing.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the TPM, PPM and CPM are independently (i) battery powered; (ii) battery-hybrid powered or (iii) turbo-electrically powered.

3. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the TPM and PPM each independently comprise one or more propulsion units and the propulsion units comprise electric motors.

4. The aircraft of claim 3, wherein each TPM and PPM comprises 1 to 24 propulsion units, further optionally the TPM and PPM propulsion units are the same in number.

5. The aircraft of claim 3, wherein the propulsion units comprise a propeller or ducted fan.

6. The aircraft of claim 3, wherein the propulsion units are arranged to be reversibly tiltable in an upward and/or downward direction, thereby enabling a change in the direction of thrust.

7. The aircraft of claim 3, wherein the propulsion units of the TPM and PPM are arrangeable to cooperate for lifting, hovering, low speed flying, or controlled descent of the aircraft.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein, when the TPM and/or PPM comprise a propeller, the propeller blades are foldable; optionally wherein the propeller blades fold in a direction towards the wing.

9. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the TPM and/or PPM are connected to one or more booms, the one or more booms being connected to the wing, wherein the booms extend fore and aft of the wing, wherein the one or more propulsion units of the TPM are located with the fore portion of the booms and the one or more propulsion units of the PPM are located with the aft portion of the booms; optionally the propulsion units are located at the distal end of the booms.

10. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the CPM is located on: i) a payload compartment; ii) on the wing; iii) on the wing tips or iv) on winglets.

11. An aircraft of claim 1, wherein the CPM optimised for cruising flight and the TPM and PPM are optimised for VTOL.

12. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the propulsion units of the CPM, TPM and/or PPM are arrangeable to effect control/steering of the aircraft, by means of varying the relative thrusts of the propulsion units and/or by varying a direction of thrust of each of the propulsion units.

13. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is capable of both vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and short take-off and landing (STOL).

14. An aerial propulsion module comprising a separating body; a tractor propulsion means (TPM); a pusher propulsion means (PPM); wherein the TPM and PPM independently comprise one or more propulsion units, the propulsion units comprising an electric motor; and wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to and spaced apart by the separating body; and wherein the separating body is fixable to the wing of an aircraft; and wherein, when the separating body is attached to a wing of the aircraft, the TPM is arranged to lie in fore of the wing and the PPM is arranged to lie in aft of the wing; and wherein, when the separating body is attached to a wing of the aircraft, the TPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein, when the separating body is attached to the wing of an aircraft, the PPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein the TPM and PPM have means capable of communication with the aircraft.

15. The module of claim 14, wherein the separating body is a boom; optionally the TPM and PPM are located at the distal ends of the boom.

16. The module of claim 14, wherein the propulsion units comprise a propeller or ducted fan.

17. The module of claim 14, when the separating body is attached to a wing of an aircraft, and the propulsion units are arranged to be reversibly tiltable in an upward and/or downward direction, thereby enabling a change in the direction of thrust.

18. The module of claims 14, wherein the propulsion units of the TPM and PPM are arranged to reversibly tilt in opposite directions.

19. An aircraft comprising one or more aerial propulsion modules according to claim 13.

20. An aircraft comprising a wing; a tractor propulsion means (TPM); a pusher propulsion means (PPM); a cruising propulsion means (CPM); and wherein the TPM is capable of providing a thrust: i) the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; or ii) the direction of thrust fixed in an upward propelling direction; wherein the PPM is capable of providing a thrust: i) the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; or ii) the direction of thrust fixed in an upward propelling direction; wherein the CPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust being in a forward propelling direction; and wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to the wing, and wherein the TPM is located in fore of the wing and the PPM is located in aft of the wing.

21. The aircraft of claim 20, wherein the TPM, PPM and CPM are independently (i) battery powered; (ii) battery-hybrid powered or (iii) turbo-electrically powered.

22. The aircraft of claim 20, wherein each TPM and PPM comprises 6 to 24 propulsion units.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] FIG. 1 is a back-side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, where the propeller blades are deployed (unfolded).

[0092] FIG. 2 is a front-side perspective view of the same embodiment, where the propeller blades are folded.

[0093] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the invention, showing the relative spin directions of the propellers (clockwise or counter clockwise).

[0094] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention from a top perspective view.

[0095] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention from a top perspective view.

[0096] Like features have been given like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0097] FIG. 1 shows a back-side perspective view of an embodiment (100) of the aircraft of the invention. The aircraft has two wings (10) attached to a cockpit/passenger-carrier (50), and has a tail portion (60). The tail portion has an elongate tail boon (61) with V-shaped tail fins (62). The aircraft has a slender streamlined body aligned with the airflow.

[0098] Below each wing are three booms (11), on the end of the booms are mounted propulsion units, i.e. a tractor propeller (21) and a pusher propeller (31), each propeller having 6 foldable blades (22, 32). The blades are in the unfolded (open) configuration. The tractor propellers (21) are pointing upward and the pusher propellers (21) are pointing downward. On the trailing edge of the wings (10), close to the cockpit/passenger-carrier (50), there are two two-bladed pusher propellers (41). The tractor propellers (21) combine to form part of the TPM (20), the pusher propellers (31) combine to form part of the PPM (30), and the two two-bladed propellers (41) combine to form part of the CPM (40). The aircraft has landing gear (70).

[0099] FIG. 2 shows substantially the same embodiment as FIG. 1, but from a front-side perspective view. The main change from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 is that the foldable blades (22; 32) of the propulsion units (21; 31) have been folded into a closed position (23; 33), lowering air resistance of the propellers.

[0100] In FIG. 1, the aircraft is shown in a VTOL flight mode and in FIG. 2 the aircraft is shown in a cruising flight mode, being powered only by the two two-bladed (42) propellers (41).

[0101] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the aircraft of FIG. 1, the relative directions of rotation of the tractor propellers and pusher propellers during a typical VTOL lift-off are shown. The dot in the figure represents the axis of rotation, and the arrows indicate the direction of rotation (as seen from above).

[0102] FIG. 4 shows substantially the same embodiment as FIG. 2, but from a top perspective view. The main change from FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 is that the two two-bladed pusher propellers (41) have been relocated on winglets on the wing tips.

[0103] FIG. 5 shows substantially the same embodiment as FIG. 2, but from a top perspective view. The main change from FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 is that the two two-bladed pusher propellers (41) have been replaced with a turbo-electric engine mounted above and between the wings. This can be used for cruising flight and any excess power could be used to charge any batteries present.