FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A fixed-wing aircraft includes a load element, which is coupled to a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft; and an actuator device, by which a position of the load element can be varied in relation to the fuselage during a flight of the fixed-wing aircraft in order to displace a center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft by the load element.

Claims

1. A fixed-wing aircraft comprising: a load element, which is coupled to a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft; and an actuator device, by which a position of the load element can be varied in relation to the fuselage during a flight of the fixed-wing aircraft to displace a center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft by the load element.

2. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 1, wherein the fixed-wing aircraft is a vertical take-off aircraft; and wherein the fixed-wing aircraft comprises a control device to control the actuator device such that the load element is arranged in a first position during a vertical take-off operation and/or during a vertical landing operation of the fixed-wing aircraft and in at least one second position during a horizontal flight of the fixed-wing aircraft.

3. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 2, wherein the first position is located on a tail of the fixed-wing aircraft.

4. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to control the actuator device such that the load element is moved from the first position into the second position in order to transition from the vertical take-off operation to the horizontal flight position.

5. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 2, wherein the control device is configured to adjust, adapt and/or regulate the second position based on a current flight parameter and/or aircraft state of the fixed-wing aircraft.

6. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 1, wherein the load element is located on an outside of the fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft.

7. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 6, wherein the load element is coupled to a coupling element of the actuator device by a rotatable joint.

8. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 7, wherein the load element is coupled to the coupling element via the rotatable joint such that an orientation of the load element in relation to the fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft is determined by gravity.

9. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 7, wherein the actuator device comprises a worm shaft, and wherein the coupling element comprises an inner thread which is on an outer thread of the worm shaft.

10. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 1, comprising: support legs which are configured such that the fixed-wing aircraft can be placed vertically on a ground surface on the support legs.

11. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 10, wherein the support legs are arranged on airfoils of the fixed-wing aircraft.

12. The fixed-wing aircraft of claim 1, wherein the load element is arranged inside the fuselage.

13. A method for operating a fixed-wing aircraft, comprising: changing a position of a load element on a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft to displace a center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fixed-wing aircraft to be operated is a vertical take-off aircraft, and wherein the load element is arranged in a first position during a vertical take-off operation and/or during a vertical landing operation of the fixed-wing aircraft and is arranged in at least one second position during a horizontal flight of the fixed-wing aircraft.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method comprises recording at least one current flight parameter and/or at least one current aircraft state; and wherein the second position is adjusted, adapted and/or regulated based on at least one recorded current flight parameter and/or at least one recorded current aircraft state of the fixed-wing aircraft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present disclosure is explained below in greater detail with the aid of embodiments specified in the example, schematic figures, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a fixed-wing aircraft according to an embodiment of the disclosure herein;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a first schematic side view of a fixed-wing aircraft according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a second schematic side view of the fixed-wing aircraft according to FIG. 2;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic graphic to explain a mode of operation of the fixed-wing aircraft from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a detail of a longitudinal section through a fixed-wing aircraft according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a detail of a cross section through the fixed-wing aircraft according to FIG. 5; and

[0033] FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram to explain a method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] The accompanying drawings should convey further understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure herein. They illustrate embodiments of the disclosure herein and clarify principles and concepts behind the disclosure herein in conjunction with the description. Other embodiments and many of the described advantages are apparent with regard to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated such that they are true to scale with respect to one another.

[0035] In the figures of the drawings, like, functionally like and identically acting elements, features and components are furnished with the same reference numerals in each case unless otherwise specified.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a fixed-wing aircraft 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure herein.

[0037] The fixed-wing aircraft 10 comprises a fuselage 11 to which a load element 12 is coupled. The load element 12 may, for example, be a container, a tank or the like. The load element 12 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 as being arranged outside the fuselage 11; however, the load element may also be arranged in full, or only in part, inside the fuselage 11.

[0038] The fixed-wing aircraft 10 also comprises an actuator device 20, by which a position 71, 72 of the load element 12 can be varied in relation to the fuselage 11, particularly during a flight of the fixed-wing aircraft 10, so as to displace a center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft 10 by the load element 12, or to be more specific by a mass of the load element 12. A position of a point or element at or by which the load element 12 is coupled to the fuselage 11 can preferably be displaced in order to displace the load element 12 and thus its mass.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a first schematic side view of a fixed-wing aircraft 110 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 2 the fixed-wing aircraft 110 is shown standing on a ground surface 1, by way of example, to clearly illustrate the stable position of the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows the same fixed-wing aircraft 110 in a side view, the view according to FIG. 2 being seen by viewing object in FIG. 3 from the right.

[0041] The fixed-wing aircraft 110 comprises a fuselage 111 on which airfoils 132 are arranged on both sides. A main rotor 108 on the nose of the fuselage 111 and one secondary rotor 109 on each of the airfoils 132 provide thrust for the fixed-wing aircraft 110. It is evident that other approaches to provide thrust can be provided rather than rotors 108, 109.

[0042] Two support legs 130 are arranged on each end of the airfoils 132, the support legs being arranged at an acute angle, i.e. in a V-shape, with respect to one another, and thus allowing the fixed-wing aircraft 110 to stand in a particularly stable position on the ground surface 1, for example on a runway or landing strip, a helipad or similar.

[0043] A winglet 134 is advantageously used to further stabilize the fixed-wing aircraft 110 and the support legs 130 on each of the two apexes at which the two support legs 130 meet on each side of the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0044] Other shapes of support legs and/or support legs in different quantities may also be provided on the fixed-wing aircraft 110 instead of the support legs 130 shown. The support legs 130 may also be attached at locations other than the end of the airfoils 132, for example at other locations on the airfoils 132 or on the fuselage 111 of the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0045] A worm shaft 126 with an outer thread is formed along a longitudinal axis 100 of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 on a lower side of the fixed-wing aircraft 110, i.e. on a side that is directed downwards, towards the Earth's surface, during horizontal flight. A coupling element 124 with an inner thread is attached to the worm shaft 126 such that the inner thread of the coupling element 124 engages in the outer thread of the worm shaft 126. A motor 128, for example an electric motor, is designed or configured or equipped to rotate the worm shaft 126.

[0046] A guide element (not shown) may be provided to prevent the coupling element 124 rotating about the rotating worm shaft 126. The coupling element 124 can thus be moved along the worm shaft 26 by rotating the worm shaft 126. The motor 128, the worm shaft 126, the coupling element 124 and the guide element can be regarded as parts of an actuator device 120 for the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0047] A load element 12 can be coupled to or is coupled to the coupling element 124. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, this can be achieved by a rotatable joint 113. In a simple case, the joint 113 may comprise or consist of a pivotally mounted ring in which the load element 112 can be hooked, by a steel cable for example. The coupling element 124 may also merely comprise a ring through which the steel cable of the load element 112 can be pulled.

[0048] A suspension point (or a coupling point) of the load element 112 on the fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 can thus be displaced by the actuator device 120 by displacing the coupling element 124 along the worm shaft 126, especially from a first position 71 on the tail of the fuselage 111 to a second position 72, which may, for example, be arranged in a region covering between twenty and eighty percent of the length of the fuselage 111, preferably between thirty and seventy percent of the length of the fuselage 111.

[0049] The actuator device 120 may be controlled by a control device 140 of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 to adjust, adapt and/or regulate the position 71, 72 of the coupling element 124 to a current flight parameter and/or aircraft state. Advantageous embodiments of the control device 140 are also explained in detail on the basis of FIG. 4 below. The control device 140 is shown in FIG. 2 as being arranged in the nose of the fixed-wing aircraft 110, by way of example. The control device 140 may in particular comprise a memory and a processor, which executes software stored in the memory. If the control device 140 is designed or configured in a special manner, this is understood to mean that the software in the control device 140 is designed or configured accordingly.

[0050] The current flight parameter and/or the current aircraft state can be recorded by sensors arranged on the fixed-wing aircraft 110. Alternatively or in addition, the act of recording the current flight parameter and/or current aircraft state may include receiving data by a radio interface in the fixed-wing aircraft 110, the received data indicating a current flight parameter and/or a current aircraft state of the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0051] The fixed-wing aircraft 110 may be a manned or unmanned, preferably unmanned, fixed-wing aircraft, for example a so-called drone. The fixed-wing aircraft 110 may in this case be designed or configured to be remote-controlled and/or designed or configured such that it can be steered automatically or independently.

[0052] The load element 112 can preferably be coupled or is coupled, for example by the described joint 113, indirectly via the coupling element 124 to the fuselage 111 of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 such that an orientation of the load element 112 is determined by gravity, in particular solely by gravity. As shown in FIG. 2, the load element 112 hangs vertically downwards, for example, if the fixed-wing aircraft 110 is resting on the ground surface 1 and the coupling element 124 is located in the first position 71.

[0053] The support legs 130 can be designed or configured such that the load element 112 hangs free in this state, i.e. does not touch the ground surface 1, or barely touches the ground surface, but does not rest on the ground surface 1. The weight or mass of the load element 112 thus helps to position the center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 so as to be as low as possible and to be between the support legs 130, with the result that the fixed-wing aircraft 110 stands in a particularly stable position.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a schematic graphic explaining a mode of operation of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in particular to explain a possible design of the control device 140 for the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0055] FIG. 4 a) through g) show consecutive schematic representations of how the fixed-wing aircraft 110 takes off vertically, passes into horizontal flight mode, from there passes into vertical landing flight mode and then lands vertically. For reasons of clarity, the fixed-wing aircraft 110 is only shown as a rough shape in FIG. 4, and in particular without the support legs 130.

[0056] During vertical take-off, i.e. during a vertical take-off operation, as illustrated in FIG. 4a), the load element 112 is advantageously located in the first position 71, i.e. on the tail of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 and thus at the lowest possible point and at the point furthest from the main rotor 108.

[0057] The fixed-wing aircraft 110 then remains in vertical flight for a period of time, as indicated in FIG. 4b), the load element 112 still being arranged in the first position 71.

[0058] After reaching a desired height, e.g. on the basis of a flight plan saved in the control device 140, the control device 140 controls the actuator device 120 to gradually move the coupling element 124 into a second position 72 which is favourable for horizontal flight.

[0059] To this end, as shown in FIG. 4c), the control device 140 controls the actuator device 120, i.e. in particular the motor 128, for the transition between vertical and horizontal flight to move the coupling element 124 into at least one third position 73, which is arranged between the first position 71 and the second position 72. The coupling element 124 may remain in the at least one third position 73 temporarily, or may pass through all positions between the first position 71 and the second position 72 without stopping. The coupling element 124 may be moved along the worm shaft 126 at a constant speed or at a variable speed. In particular, the movement of the coupling element 124 may be adapted to a current flight parameter and/or a current flight state of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 by the control device 140.

[0060] As a result of the center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 changing due to the changing position of the load element 112, the fixed-wing aircraft 110 advantageously inclines from the vertical flight position to the horizontal flight position.

[0061] The second position 72 in which the coupling element 124 and the load element 112 are located during a horizontal flight of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 is advantageously adapted to an ideal arrangement of the center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft 110 during horizontal flight, as shown in FIG. 4d).

[0062] In order to transfer from horizontal flight to a vertical landing position, i.e. to begin the vertical landing operation, the actuator device 120 is controlled by the control device 140 to move the coupling element 124 back to the first position 71. This can take place in the exact reverse sequence as described in relation to the transition from vertical take-off to horizontal flight. In particular, as shown in FIG. 4e), the coupling element 124 may remain in the at least one third position 73, or may pass through all positions between the first position 71 and the second position 72 without stopping.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4f), during vertical landing the coupling element 124 is again in the first position 71 and the load element 112 hangs vertically downwards due to gravity. This position is also maintained when the fixed-wing aircraft 110 has reached the ground, as shown in FIG. 4g).

[0064] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a detail of a longitudinal section through a fixed-wing aircraft 210 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The fixed-wing aircraft 210 is a variation of the fixed-wing aircraft 10 or the fixed-wing aircraft 110 and can be adapted in accordance with all modifications and developments described in relation to these fixed-wing aircraft and vice versa.

[0065] The fixed-wing aircraft 210 differs from the fixed-wing aircraft 110 in particular in that a load element 212 (rather than the load element 112 in the fixed-wing aircraft 110) is provided in the fixed-wing aircraft 210, which load element is arranged inside a fuselage 211 of the fixed-wing aircraft 210 (instead of the fuselage 111 of the fixed-wing aircraft 110). As shown in FIG. 5, the load element 212 may, for example, be arranged in a bottom third of the fuselage 211, for example separated by a cover from the remaining inner space 213 of the fuselage 211.

[0066] A relevant position of the load element 212 can be moved along the fuselage 211 by an actuator device (not shown) of the fixed-wing aircraft 210, which actuator device can be controlled by a control device (likewise not shown) for the fixed-wing aircraft 210. The actuator device for the fixed-wing aircraft 210 may, for example, be controlled by the control device for the fixed-wing aircraft 210 as mentioned above in relation to the control device 140 and the actuator device 120 for the fixed-wing aircraft 110 and shown in FIG. 4.

[0067] In particular, the load element 212 may be displaced inside the fuselage 211 and along the fuselage 211 between different positions, preferably when changing from a vertical take-off operation to a horizontal flight position or from a horizontal flight position to a vertical landing position, i.e. a vertical landing operation, of the fixed-wing aircraft 210. The load element 212 may itself comprise an inner thread with which it is placed on a worm shaft of the fixed-wing aircraft 210 to move the load element 212 along the fuselage 211 or is connected or coupled to a coupling element which is in turn positioned on the worm shaft by an inner thread. A guide to prevent the load element 212 rotating about the worm shaft may be provided by guide rails, for example, and/or by optimally fitting the load element 212 into a separate sub-area of the inner space 213 of the fuselage 211 in relation to its cross section, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a detail of the cross-section of the fixed-wing aircraft according to FIG. 5, specifically along the sectional plane A-A in FIG. 5. The load element 212, which may, for example, be designed or configured as a tank or merely as ballast, may, as shown in FIG. 6, have a cross section which comprises or consists of an arc with a chord. The load element 212 is preferably arranged at the bottom end of the fuselage 211, i.e. at the bottom during horizontal flight of the fixed-wing aircraft 210.

[0069] FIG. 7 shows a schematic flow diagram to explain a method for operating a fixed-wing aircraft according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] The method according to FIG. 7 may be used to operate the fixed-wing aircraft 10; 110; 210 according to the disclosure herein and can be adapted in accordance with all modifications and developments described in relation to the fixed-wing aircraft according to the disclosure herein, in particular the fixed-wing aircraft 10; 110; 210, and vice versa.

[0071] In one step S01, a position 71, 72 of a load element 12; 112; 212 on a fuselage 11; 111; 211 of the fixed-wing aircraft 10; 110; 210 is changed to displace a center of gravity of the fixed-wing aircraft 10; 110; 210, for example as described in relation to the fixed-wing aircrafts 10; 110; 210, and particularly in relation to the control device 140 and the actuator device 120 for the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0072] In particular, the fixed-wing aircraft 110; 210 to be operated may be designed or configured as a vertical take-off aircraft, and the load element 112; 212 may be arranged in a first position 71 during a vertical take-off operation and/or during a vertical landing operation and the load element may be arranged in at least one second position 72 during horizontal flight, similar to the description above, particularly in relation to FIG. 4.

[0073] In particular, the position 71, 72, 73 of the load element 112; 212 may be varied to pass from, or during a transition from, a vertical take-off position to horizontal flight and/or to pass from, or during a transition from, horizontal flight to a vertical landing position.

[0074] The method may optionally include recording S02 at least one current flight parameter and/or at least one current aircraft state. In this case, the second position 72 may be adjusted, adapted and/or regulated based on a recorded current flight parameter and/or a recorded current aircraft state of the fixed-wing aircraft 110; 210, to stabilize the fixed-wing aircraft 110; 210 for example.

[0075] The current flight parameter and/or the current aircraft state can be recorded S02 by sensors arranged on the fixed-wing aircraft 110; 210. Alternatively or in addition, the act of recording S02 the current flight parameter and/or the current aircraft state may include receiving data by a radio interface in the fixed-wing aircraft 110; 210, the received data indicating a current flight parameter and/or a current aircraft state of the fixed-wing aircraft 110.

[0076] Various features to improve the accuracy of the description in one or more examples are summarised in the previous detailed description. However, it should be made quite clear that the above description is merely given by way of example and is by no means restrictive. It serves to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of the various features and embodiments. Many other examples will be immediately and directly evident to a person skilled in the art on the basis of such a person's technical expertise in consideration of the above description.

[0077] The embodiments have been selected and described to explain the principles underlying the disclosure herein and its possible practical applications as comprehensively as possible. As a result, persons skilled in the art will be able to modify and use the disclosure herein and its various embodiments in an optimum manner in relation to the intended purpose. The terms containing and comprising are used as neutral expressions in the claims and in the description to cover the corresponding concept of including. Furthermore, use of the terms one or a shall not rule out the possibility of a plurality of the features and components thus described.

[0078] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a, an or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.