Granted Patent B2

US 12,234,007 · App. 18/174,567 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Inventors: Jimmy Lu (N. Markham, CA); Mathew Isler (Sammamish, WA); Matt Knapp (Redmond, WA); Kevin Holcomb (Sultan, WA); Petek Saracoglu (Langley, WA); Lauren Burns (Templestowe, AU); Herb West (Bothell, WA)

Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.

B64C13/507

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A method comprising:

transporting, by a ground system vehicle, at least one charged energy storage unit from a first airport location to a stationary, landed aircraft; and

while the ground system vehicle is aligned with the stationary, landed aircraft and using equipment installed on the ground system vehicle:

removing at least one depleted energy storage unit from the stationary, landed aircraft, removing the at least one depleted energy storage unit from the stationary, landed aircraft comprising mechanically and/or electrically disconnecting the depleted energy storage unit from an aircraft bay; and

installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit on the stationary, landed aircraft to replace the removed at least one depleted energy storage unit by positioning the transported at least one charged energy storage unit while external to the landed aircraft using one or more locating devices to track a location of the transported at least one charged energy storage unit relative to the landed aircraft and, once installed on the landed aircraft, mechanically and/or electrically connecting the transported at least one charged energy storage unit to the aircraft bay.

2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising transporting, by the ground system vehicle, the removed at least one depleted energy storage unit to a second airport location for storage and/or charging.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stationary, landed aircraft comprises landing gear that is in contact with ground, and the method further comprises, while removing the depleted energy storage unit or installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit, securing the stationary, landed aircraft by one or more restraints connected to the ground system vehicle and/or the equipment.

4. The method of claim 3 , and wherein at least one of the one or more restraints connected to the ground system vehicle and/or the equipment prevent a backward tipping of the stationary, landed aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein removal of the at least one depleted energy storage unit and installation of the transported at least one charged energy storage unit comprise detaching or opening at least a portion of an access panel on a fuselage, fuselage fairing or wing of the stationary, landed aircraft, the access panel comprising an exterior surface conforming to a contour of an exterior skin of the stationary, landed aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft bay is disposed within a pod suspended from a wing of the landed aircraft, a fuselage fairing or the wing of the landed aircraft.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the aircraft bay is accessible via an access panel comprises a hinged wing tip or a front spar forming a leading edge of the wing of the landed aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1 , and wherein installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit comprises:

while raising the transported at least one charged energy storage unit from the ground system vehicle to the landed aircraft;

reducing a tolerance of a location of the at least one charged energy storage unit until sensors detect that the at least one charged energy storage unit is positioned to a tolerance sufficient to connect the at least one charged energy storage unit to the landed aircraft; and

selectively reducing a load responsive to a force feedback if the at least one charged energy storage unit is being incorrectly loaded.

9. The method of claim 1 , and wherein installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit comprises:

moving the transported at least one charged energy storage unit relative to the landed aircraft to reduce a tolerance of a location of the transported at least one charged energy storage unit until detecting, through use of at least one of the one or more locating devices, whether the transported at least one charged energy storage unit is in a correct position sufficient to be mechanically and electrically connected to the aircraft based, at least in part, on sensor signals.

10. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising providing an indication of status of electrical and mechanical connections responsive to completion of installation of the transported at least one charged energy storage unit.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

mechanically disconnecting the depleted energy storage unit comprises disconnecting one or more coolant connections; and

mechanically connecting the transported at least one charged energy storage unit comprises connecting the one or more coolant connections.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit on the stationary, landed aircraft comprises:

mechanically connecting the transported at least one charged energy storage unit to a bay using lugs, pins, hooks and/or cam latches;

electrically connecting the transported at least one charged energy storage unit to the bay using a bayonet mount with pins; and

thermally connecting the transported at least one charged energy storage unit using low pressure valves.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

removing the depleted energy storage unit from the stationary, landed aircraft comprises detaching a first pod from being suspended from a wing of the landed aircraft, the first pod containing the at least one depleted energy storage unit; and

installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit on the stationary, landed aircraft comprises attaching a second pod to be suspended from the wing of the landed aircraft, the second pod containing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit.

14. An apparatus comprising:

equipment configured to be installed on a ground system vehicle, the equipment being further configured to:

maintain an alignment with respect to a stationary, landed aircraft;

remove at least one depleted energy storage unit from a bay on the stationary, landed aircraft, removal of the at least one depleted energy storage unit to comprise mechanical and/or electrical disconnection of the depleted energy storage unit from the bay; and

install at least one charged energy storage unit to the bay on the stationary, landed aircraft to replace the removed at least one depleted energy storage unit, installation of the at least one charged energy storage unit to comprise mechanical and/or electrical connection of the at least one charged energy storage unit to the bay,

wherein the equipment further comprises one or more locating devices to track a location of the at least one charged energy storage unit relative to the landed aircraft and to position the at least one charged energy storage unit for mechanical and/or electrical connection of the at least one charged energy storage unit to the bay for installation.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the depleted energy storage unit is removed from an equipment bay accessible through an access panel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the equipment bay is disposed within a pod suspended from a wing of the landed aircraft, a fuselage fairing or the wing of the landed aircraft.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the access panel comprises a hinged wing tip or a front spar forming a leading edge of a wing of the landed aircraft.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the ground system vehicle is capable of operating without a human operator.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:

the ground system vehicle further comprises a first bay for securing the depleted energy storage unit and a second bay for securing the at least one charged energy storage unit; and

the equipment is further configured to:

lower the depleted energy storage unit to be secured in the first bay while the at least one charged energy storage unit is secured in the second bay; and

raise the at least one charged energy storage unit from the second bay to be installed in the stationary, landed aircraft while the depleted energy storage unit is secured in the first bay.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (45)