EP3924250A1

EP3924250A1 - The subject of the invention is an aero power unit with (jet, engine or electric) power drive and equipment for parachutes and paragliders

Info

Publication number: EP3924250A1
Application number: EP20755267.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zbigniew Wladyslaw Mazurkiewicz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-02-15
Filing date: 2020-02-14
Publication date: 2021-12-22
Also published as: PL428928A1; WO2020167150A1; EP3924250A4

Abstract

Aero power unit with drive and equipment. Construction and method of folding and unfolding/opening of the unit for a parachute jump and for a gliding flight consisting in the use of draw-out arms (2) of engine fixing booms (1) or hinge fixed arms maintaining the drives/engines (1) in a respectively arranged position in relation to the jumper's body to ensure the dimensions and balancing the system weight in a way which enables a parachute jump. Vertically and horizontally tilting (x, y) fixing of the power unit to achieve the dimensions in the folded position allowing for a parachute jump and, during flight in an open main or spare canopy, better manoeuvring/agility possibilities for the parachutist and to obtain the possibility to compensate negative outside aspects, such as for example wind, by fixing the thrust corresponding to the situation/power unit angle. The use of the chest module (4) as a container for a battery or a fuel tank depending on the type of used engines.

Description

THE SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION IS AN AERO POWER UNIT WITH (JET, ENGINE OR ELECTRIC) POWER DRIVE AND EQUIPMENT FOR

PARACHUTES AND PARAGLIDERS

The invention of the aero power unit with a drive and equipment concerns a new spatial and functional formula of an air propulsion for selected categories of aviation equipment, in particular the parachute equipment.

It is known from the patent description of USA No. US 8561936 B2 motor glider electrical power unit. The system construction enables an independent power driven flight and an independent landing.

It is known from the European patent description No. 0217686 B1 flexible wing power unit. The system enables an independent set off, power driven flight and an independent landing.

There is a USA No. US 2018/ 0252223 A1 patent description, the solutions of which allow for a longer autonomy and duration of the flight and more control of landing approach, which is to result with a longer time of staying in the air. The purpose of the invention was to elaborate an improved parachute paraglider, which enables to obtain a better safety for the user, better functionality and a more stable paraglider work to allow for a bigger flight autonomy and possibilities to move in the air with the maneuvering and height control.

At http://www.jetman.com/loft/ there is a description of an aero power unit jet system with a drive equipment for a flight with the use of a stiff structure mini wing. The system enables the user to leave the plane board in the air (during flight) and to fly independently with a power drive. The system does not enable autonomic landing, which needs a classical parachute. The landing phase in the parachute is without the drive considering its parameters and

configuration, the drive is used only for a longer stay in the air in relation to other types of gliders and to achieve considerable velocity.

At http://www.skyflash.org/ there is a description of a jet system of the aero power unit with a drive and equipment serving to fly with the use of a stiff structure mini wing. The system enables a set off from land and an

independent landing. The system does not enable jumping from a flying aircraft.

In the system based on the invention the power unit in the form of an engine or engines (1) is folded in the time of the jumper's flight on the aircraft board in the way (Fig.1 ; Fig. 4; Fig. 5; Fig. 6; Fig. 7; Fig. 10; Fig. 12), which enables preparing the parachute jump and the actual jumping. The power unit in the folded position enables a safe leaving of the board and a stable jumper’s descent after leaving the aircraft until the moment of opening of the main or the spare parachute canopy (Fig. 5; Fig. 6). After opening the parachute canopy the jumper opens and starts the power unit in the way (Fig. 2; Fig. 3; Fig. 8; Fig. 9; Fig. 11 ; Fig. 13; Fig. 14), which enables the flight safety and a possibility to fly with the drive of the so called engine flight on the parachute.

It is useful that the power unit, based on the invention, enables flying from the airport to the landing area and a parachute jumping from the aircraft.

It is useful that the power unit, while descending before the opening of the main or spare parachute canopy, enables a stable and safety descent.

It is useful that the power unit does not interrupt the parachute canopy starting its work (opening and filling with air).

It is useful that after the main or spare canopy starts working, the jumper is able to fly further distances or at a higher speed.

It is useful that during a gliding flight in the parachute the jumper has more possibilities to maneuver the parachute and also to choose a higher number of landing places, including places, which are impossible to use in case of traditional non-power parachute systems.

It is useful that the engines are able to rotate around their axes“x” and Ύ” (Fig.3; Fig. 3; Fig. 12; Fig. 13; Fig. 14) which allows to steer the power thrust vector by raising the maneuvering possibilities (agility) of the jumper- parachuter arrangement.

It is useful that the power unit allows to fix an individual reservoir in the front and behind the jumper (the rear assembly Fig. 5; the front assembly Fig. 6).

The elaboration of a power unit for the parachute, which does not interrupt the parachute jump and opening the parachute and after opening the main or the spare canopy is a great advantage of the invention. It enables reaching the flight range, the velocity and maneuvering options impossible to obtain in flights without power.

Another advantage of the invention is also enabling the jumpers, for example physicians, special forces soldiers, rescuers, landing units etc. to reach the targets and landing places, which are impossible in case of traditional jumps with the use of gravitation force and aerodynamic force generated in the parachute canopy. The next advantage of the invention is a better safety of parachute flights, in particular a beter landing safety, because the system, according to the invention, shall enable passing obstacles in the landing area and it will even enable a new landing approach, after a possible unsuccessful landing approach.

The advantage of the invention is the possibility to use such powers as combustion, jet (Fig. 10; Fig. 11) and electric engines, in particular a fan drive (from Fig. 1 to Fig. 9). A selection of various engine types enables an optimization of the invention for the needs of various missions and adjustment for the needs of diverse tasks.

The subject of the invention is visible on the examples in the drawings, in which the figures present a scheme of the power unit in a complex system (Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4; Fig. 5; Fig. 6; Fig. 7; Fig. 10; Fig. 12), that is in the configuration for a flight in the aircraft board and in the unfolded system (Fig. 2; Fig. 8; Fig.

9; Fig. 11 ; Fig. 13; Fig. 14), that is in the configuration for a distant flight and landing, as well as the scheme of the mechanism for a configuration of the unit depending on the stadium, in which the jumper is during the parachute jump (Fig. 3; Fig. 8).

(c) Patent reservations

Aero power unit with a drive and equipment.

Construction and the method of folding and unfolding (opening) of the unit for a parachute jump (Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5; Fig. F6) and for a gliding flight consisting in the use of draw-out (Fig. 2; Fig. 3; Fig. 9) arms (2) engine fixing booms (1) or hinge fixed (Fig. 10; Fig. 11 ; Fig. 12; Fig. 13; Fig. 14) arms maintaining the drives (engines) (1 ) in a respectively arranged position in relation to the jumper’s body to ensure the dimensions and balancing the system weight in a way, which enables a parachute jump.

Vertically and horizontally tilting (Fig. 12; Fig. 13; Fig. 14“x” and“y” axes) fixing the power unit to achieve the dimensions in the folded position allowing for a parachute jump and during flight in an open main or spare canopy, a beter maneuvering (agility) possibilities for the parachuter and to obtain the possibility to compensate negative outside aspects such as for example wind by fixing the thrust corresponding to the situation (power unit angle).

The use of the chest module (4) as a container for battery or a fuel tank depending on the type of used engines.

The gist of the flying power unit is the fact, that the power unit on the board of the aircraft while approaching to the landing area is folded in a way enabling a safe leaving of the aircraft (parachute jumping). It is characteristic that the power unit, which is folded during the jump, does not interrupt the jumper’s detaching from the aircraft and does not interrupt the process of his or her descent and, which is important - it does not interrupt the process of opening the parachute canopy (introducing the canopy work), whereas after the canopy is filled with air - layout of various types of drive (in the form of an engine or jet engines or power engines) and in particular a fan engine or engines (drives) (electric or combustion engines powering the fan in a housing, which increases the driving unit thrust) and starting a flight with an active drive fulfilling the safety requirements and the rules of aerodynamics and mechanics. The evenly layered drive allows for further and/or faster flights and increases the maneuverability (agility) of the flying parachute jumper.

Based on the Fig. No.1 and Fig No. 2 the power unit is made of:

1 - engine and housing

2 - draw-out arm with a fixed drive

3 - the draw-out arm module of the draw-out drive

4 - chest tank with the power pack and draw-out arm parts

5 - system of assembly for the parachute harness with an (optional) parachute independent harness

6 - engine work steering unit

According to the drawing, figure No. 1 Configuration of the aero power unit for a jump and descent with a folded main and spare parachute.

While the jumper departs from the aircraft and while he or she descends with a closed main and spare parachute, the reach-out arms (2) are folded and engines (1) are close to the module (3), which serves to reach them out and which is a part of the chest reservoir (4).

The chest reservoir (4) is also a tank for a battery pack powering electric engines or a fuel tank in case of applying combustion or jet engines.

Engines with housing (1) are fixed in a tilting position on the reach-out arm (2) and may, depending on the jumper’s decision, rotate around the horizontal and vertical axis, where they are blocked in a chosen working position. A tilting fixture of engines (1) enables the setting of a power unit thrust depending on the outside conditions, which compensates for example a side wind, which affects the flying jumper or reduces a single charge of the parachute canopy. Based on the drawing Figure No. 2 and Figure No. 3 present a configuration of the aero power unit for the flight and landing.

After opening the main or spare parachute the jumper opens the reach-out arms (2) and sets the engines (1) in the angle, which depends on the outside conditions and afterwards he or she may start the engines (1) starting the flight with a drive. A manual controller (6) serves to steer the thrust (engine power).

The invention proposes a different system by applying rotating arms (2a) instead of the reach-out arms (2) based on the drawing (Fig. No. 10; Fig. No. 11; Fig. No. 12; Fig. No. 13; Fig. No. 14) rotating around the“z” axis (Fig. 12) to achieve the assumed utility and functionality values - that is, to have the possibility of a parachute jumping and after opening the main or spare parachute canopy, to have the ability to fly with a drive.

(d) Abstract

The invention of an aero power unit with a drive and equipment concerns spatial and functional solutions, which result in the fact that the power unit, which is folded during the jump (A) does not interrupt the jumper’s detaching from the aircraft and does not interrupt the process of his or her descent and, which is important - it does not interrupt the process of opening the parachute canopy (introducing the canopy work), whereas after the canopy is filled with air - layout of various types of drive (in the form of an engine or jet engines or power engines) and in particular a fan engine or engines (drives) (electric or combustion engines powering the fan in a housing, which increases the driving unit thrust) (B) and staring a flight with an active drive fulfilling the safety requirements and the rules of aerodynamics and mechanics. The evenly layered drive allows for further and/or faster flights and increases the

maneuverability (agility) of the flying parachute jumper.

The invention serves to increase the distance and/or speed of the flight in the open parachute after a parachute jump from the aircraft and to improve the maneuverability of the flying jumper in particular by a considerable

improvement of the landing safety in a difficult area, among others, by increasing the number of places possible to land, the possibility to omit the terrain obstacles and flying above them etc., maneuvers made in a way, which is impossible to obtain in case of a traditional gravitational descent and the use of the natural forces (wind, movements enforced by the terrain etc.)

(3 reservations)

Claims

Based on the drawing Figure No. 2 and Figure No. 3 present a configuration of the aero power unit for the flight and landing.

The invention proposes a different system by applying rotating arms (2a) instead of the reach-out arms (2) based on the drawing (Fig. No. 10; Fig. No. 11 ; Fig. No. 12; Fig. No. 13; Fig. No. 14) rotating around the“z” axis (Fig. 12) to achieve the assumed utility and functionality values - that is, to have the possibility of a parachute jumping and after opening the main or spare parachute canopy, to have the ability to fly with a drive.