IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,371,066
Granted Patent B2
US 10,371,066 · App. 15/953,209 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Unmanned aircraft and operation method for the same

Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel (Uhldingen-Muehlhofen, DE); Florian Stagliano (Munich, DE); Jan Van Toor (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
F02D29/02B64C39/024B64D27/02B64D27/24B64D31/00B64D41/00B64C2201/024B64C2201/042B64C2201/044B64C2201/066B64C2201/086B64C2201/088B64C2201/104B64C2201/108B64C2201/16B64D2027/026Y02T50/44Y02T50/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,371,066
App. No.
15/953,209
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An unmanned aircraft includes a propulsion system having a diesel or kerosene internal combustion engine and a charger device for engine charging. The propulsion system can be a hybrid propulsion system or a parallel hybrid propulsion system.

Claims (15)

1. An unmanned aircraft, comprising:

a propulsion system that comprises a diesel or kerosene internal combustion engine, wherein the propulsion system is a hybrid propulsion system which, in addition to the internal combustion engine, comprises an electric motor and an energy storage device configured to store electric energy for driving the electric motor;

a charging device configured to charge the internal combustion engine of the unmanned aircraft; and

a controller configured to control the charging device or the hybrid propulsion in accordance with flight operation parameters,

wherein the charging device is designed for multi-stage charging,

wherein the charging device comprises multiple exhaust gas turbines that are connected in series,

wherein the charging device additionally comprises at least one mechanical charger configured to be driveable by the electric motor of the hybrid propulsion, and

wherein the controller is configured to control charging of the charging device with or without the use of exhaust gas energy and by the use of mechanical energy from the internal combustion engine or from the electric motor.

2. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid propulsion system comprises a switchable coupling device with which the internal combustion engine or the electric motor is selectively connected to a thrust generator.

3. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are configured to be selectively operated in parallel or in series.

4. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the charging device comprises at least one charger that is configured to be driven by exhaust gas energy.

5. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical charger is driven by an output shaft of the internal combustion engine or through an electric motor.

6. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control switching on and off of a first or second stage of the engine charging or the switching on and off of the electric motor, in accordance with at least one of the parameters of altitude, angle of a takeoff or landing flight to the vertical, desired velocity, allowable heat output, allowable operating noise level, or temperature.

7. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a rotary piston engine.

8. The unmanned aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of more than 250 kg.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: STEINWANDEL, JUERGEN; STAGLIANO, FLORIAN; VAN TOOR, JAN
To: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
Reel/Frame 046346/0396 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 021 339 · Oct 31, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 14439502
Related Publication 20180283292A1 · Oct 4, 2018