Abstract:
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has an internal combustion engine (19), and a fuel and lubrication system comprising a fuelling system (21) for fuelling the engine (19) and a lubrication system (23) for delivering lubricating oil to the engine (19). The fuelling system (21) comprises a fuel reservoir (25) from which fuel can be delivered to the engine (19). The fuel reservoir (25) comprises a main tank (41) and a header tank (43). The lubrication system (23) comprises an oil tank (31). The oil tank (31) is accommodated internally within the main tank (41) to provide an integrated assembly (33). The arrangement provides for warming of lubrication oil for the UAV engine using several available heat sources. Further, the arrangement facilitates a configuration and layout intended to minimise or negate any undesirable moments of inertia for the UAV 0 during flight as fuel and oil is consumed.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Fluggerät mit einem Fluggeräterumpf (1) und mehreren Propellereinheiten (3), die schwenkbar in Bezug auf den Fluggeräterumpf (1) angeordnet sind und mit Tragflächen (5), die zumindest teilweise gegenüber dem Fluggeräterumpf (1) und unabhängig von den Propellereinheiten (3) verschwenkbar sind.
Abstract:
Provided are alternative hybrid transmission systems for aeronautical, marine, and/or two wheeled land vehicles, as well as propulsion systems and vehicles comprising such transmission systems, to improve various propulsion systems using a combination of at least two power sources with the option for simultaneous or alternating power input from two or more power sources, while providing desired characteristics or components. Such characteristics or components can include, but are not limited to: power, torque, acceleration, cruising speed or power, fuel efficiency, battery charging, endurance, power sizing, weight, capacity, efficiency, speed, mechanically and/or electrically added system requirements, design, fuel selection, functional design, structural design, lift to drag ratio, weight, and/or other desired characteristic or component.
Abstract:
An aerial vehicle is described which comprises: a first compartment (13) for holding a lighter than air gas; a second compartment (6, 4) for holding atmospheric air and having an inlet and an outlet; a solar panel (41) for converting sunlight into electricity; a compressor (242) for pumping atmospheric air through the inlet into the second compartment; control means (1,3) for controlling the pitch and yaw of the vehicle; and a controller (209) for controlling the buoyancy of the vehicle via the compressor and the outlet such that the vehicle is either lighter than the surrounding air and rising or heavier than the surrounding air and falling, and for controlling the control means such that the rising and falling motion includes a horizontal component. In another embodiment the solar panel is replaced by an engine and a fuel tank for storing fuel for the engine is also provided. The aerial vehicle can remain airborne for extended periods by using buoyancy propulsion. In the embodiments including a solar panel, a system including a light transmission station may be provided to supply energy to the solar panel from the light transmission station rather than relying on the incident sunlight alone. A method of flight using buoyancy propulsion is also described.
Abstract:
A UAV with an engine (34) attached to rear (38) of its fuselage by an engine mounting assembly with the rotational axis of the engine generally parallel with the axis (45) of the fuselage. The engine mounting assembly includes a fuselage bulkhead (40) and a parallel, spaced motor mount bulkhead (42) with the engine (34) attached to it. The mounting assembly also includes a number of connectors (64) that extend between the two bulkheads (40,42) and resiliently compressible material (48) between the bulkheads in the vicinity of each connector. Each connector (64) can pivot relative to the bulkheads (40,42) and presses on the bulkheads to compress the compressible material (48). The connectors (64) are adjustable to adjust the compressive load exerted on the compressible material (48).
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can accelerate when portions of the carriage and/or the launch guide move relative to each other. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. A brake can arrest the motion of the gripper after launch.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for starting propeller driven aircraft and other devices are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a removable fixture that is coupled to the propeller and has at least one portion exposed to a flowstream to rotate the propeller during engine start-up. The fixture is configured to separate from the propeller after the engine begins to turn over (e.g., after the engine starts and/or rotates above a threshold rate). Accordingly, the system can include a releasable link between the fixture and the propeller.
Abstract:
An airship (20) has a generally spherical shape and has an internal envelope (24) for containing a lifting gas such as Helium or Hydrogen. The airship has a propulsion and control system (36, 38) that permits it to be flown to a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that location for a period of time. In one embodiment the airship may achieve neutral buoyancy when the internal envelope is as little as 7 % full of lifting gas, and may have a service ceiling of about 60,000 ft. The airship has an equipment module (180) that can include either communications equipment, or monitoring equipment, or both. The airship can be remotely controlled from a ground station. The airship has a solar cell array and electric motors (44, 46) of the propulsion and control system are driven by power obtained from the array. The airship also has an auxiliary power unit (52) that can be used to drive the electric motors. The airship can have a pusher propeller that assists in driving the airship and also moves the point of flow separation of the spherical airship further aft. In one embodiment the airship can be refuelled at altitude to permit extended loitering.
Abstract:
A remote-control powered parafoil aircraft has an aircraft body (1) that is engine powered and hung with lines (2) from an air-expandable wing (3, 20). The lines include control lines (15) with which air flow and aerodynamic shape of the air-expandable wing are variable selectively from a foil controller (18, 19, 20) on the aircraft body for flight-mode control. Sight from a television camera (8) on the aircraft body is televised to a control unit (9) from which control data is transmitted selectively from proximate the control unit to the foil controller (14) with a multi-axis joystick or similar control, to an engine (6) on the parafoil body from an engine controller (24) and to an item servo (29) for control of optional items (45) on the aircraft body.