NO344545B1

NO344545B1 - An aerial vehicle system and associated power generating hub

Info

Publication number: NO344545B1
Application number: NO20181369A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Jan Martin Nysæter; Svein Even Blakstad
Original assignee: Griff Aviation As
Priority date: 2018-10-24
Filing date: 2018-10-24
Publication date: 2020-01-27
Also published as: WO2020085919A1

Description

An aerial vehicle system and associated power generating hub

Field of the invention

The invention concerns the field of aerial vehicles, and is particularly applicable for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), such as drones.

Background of the invention

The prior art includes EP 2818406 B1, which describes a modular vehicle system utilized for lifting and manoeuvring payloads. According to aspects of the disclosure, any number of individual lift vehicles may be connected to create a unified lift vehicle. The individual lift vehicles may be placed adjacent to one another according to a determined lifting array formation and coupled together using connection mechanisms. The connection mechanisms rigidly and communicatively connect the individual lift vehicles to create the unified lift vehicle suitable for lifting and manoeuvring a payload.

The prior also art includes WO 2014/149101 A2, which describes an aircraft which is provided with a gas turbine engine having a plurality of shafts. A first shaft provides power to an electrical generator and a propeller, while a second shaft provides power to a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system may be integrated to the propeller, like a ducted fan, or on the outer skin of the aircraft.

The prior also art includes WO 2018/057702 A1, which describes an aerial vehicle having a hybrid power generation system comprising an engine; a generator mechanically coupled to the engine; and a propulsion system comprising an electric motor electrically coupled to the generator and a rotational mechanism coupled to the electric motor.

Summary of the invention

The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.

It is thus provided an aerial vehicle system, comprising an aerial vehicle system, comprising at least two aerial vehicles interconnected via a hub member, characterized in that the hub member comprises a power generator which is connected to operate one or more electric motor in the aerial vehicles.

Each aerial vehicle may be releasably connected to the hub member via a respective connecting member. The hub member is a central hub member, whereby each aerial vehicle arranged symmetrically about the hub member.

In one embodiment, the hub member comprises lifting means, such as a winch, for supporting a payload.

The hub member comprises power and control means, for operating and controlling the aerial vehicles connected to the hub member. In one embodiment, the aerial vehicles are unmanned aerial vehicles having at least one electric motor.

The power generator may comprise a prime mover and an electric power generator. The prime mover may be a gas turbine engine or a reciprocating engine. The power generator may comprise one or more fuel cells.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), connected to a stand-alone power generator;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of two UAVs, interconnected via connecting arms and a hub member, the hub member also comprising a power generator;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of three UAVs, interconnected via connecting arms and a hub member, the hub member also comprising a power generator;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of four UAVs, interconnected via connecting arms and a hub member, the hub member also comprising a power generator;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of three UAVs, interconnected via connecting arms and a hub member, the hub member also comprising a power generator and lifting means, in the process of lifting a payload;

Figure 6 corresponds to figure 5, but shows another embodiment of UAVs, and no payload; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having an integrated power generator.

Detailed description of a preferential embodiment

The following description will use terms such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lateral”, “back and forth”, “up and down”, ”upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “forward”, “rear”, etc. These terms generally refer to the views and orientations as shown in the drawings and that are associated with a normal use of the invention. The terms are used for the reader’s convenience only and shall not be limiting.

In figure 1, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 10, also commonly referred to as a drone, is resting in an inactive (no-flight) state on the ground or any other support surface (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the UAV comprises an airframe 11 and four electric motors 13, each motor supported by respective support arms 14 connected to the airframe. The support arms 14 may be pivotally connected to the airframe. Each electric motor 13 is mechanically connected to, and thus drives, a respective rotor 12. Such propulsion configuration is well known, and needs therefore not be described in further detail here. Although the invention, here and in the following, is described with reference to a UAV having four rotors (a “quad-copter”), it should be understood that the invention described herein applies to any type of UAV.

Also illustrated in figure 1 is a power generator 40, connected to the UAV by an umbilical cable 41. The power generator is thus configured to charge accumulators (not shown) onboard the UAV; the accumulators in turn supplying electrical power to the electric motors 13. The umbilical cable 41 may thus comprise cable and wiring for supplying electrical power, as well as control cables to onboard control systems (not shown).

Although not illustrated specifically, the power generator 40 may in one embodiment comprise a prime mover and an electric power generator. The prime mover may be any machine, device or component that produces mechanical energy to operate the power generator. Examples of prime movers are a gas turbine engine or a reciprocating engine. In another embodiment, the power generator 40 may comprise fuel cells and a hydrogen supply. In general, the power unit shall be construed as a stand-alone (i.e. selfcontained) device configured to provide electric power to charge the above mentioned AUV accumulators.

In figure 2 two UAVs 10 are interconnected via respective connecting arms 30 and a central hub member 20. The connections, which may be selectively releasable, may be configured by any suitable means, as the skilled person will understand. The hub member 20 comprises transmitter/receiver and control means, and is operatively connected to the UAVs, whereby the complete system of UAVs may be controlled from a remote location. The hub member 20 also comprises a power generator 40 (described above). Although not illustrated, cables (for power) and wiring (for data and control signals) connect the power generator 40 with the onboard accumulators on each UAV 10. Figure 2 thus illustrates a system of two rigidly connected UAVs, interconnected via a central hub member and powered by a central power unit.

It should be understand that the inventive concept applies also to configurations having other numbers of UAVs. For example, figure 3 illustrates a three-UAV configuration, and figure 4 illustrates a four-UAV configuration.

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invented system, in which the hub member 20’, in addition to the power generator 40 as described above, also comprises a lifting device for lifting a payload 22. Although not illustrated in detail, it should be understood that the lifting device comprises a winch and all control system necessary to operate the winch from a distal location (i.e. remote control, e.g. from ground). The winch may be powered by one or more accumulators on board the UAV (being charged by the power generator), receive its power directly from the power generator, receive its power directly from the prime mover, or a combination of these. With reference to figure 6, the winch inside the hub member operates a lifting wire 22 and hook 23, and may thus lift, lower and raise, the payload 22

In one embodiment, illustrated by figure 5, the power generator 40 is arranged inside the UAV airframe 11.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle system, comprising at least two aerial vehicles (10) interconnected via a hub member (20; 20’), characterized in that

the hub member comprises a power generator (40) which is connected to operate one or more electric motor (13) in the aerial vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each aerial vehicle (10) is releasably connected to the hub member (20; 20’) via a respective connecting member (30).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub member is a central hub member, whereby each aerial vehicle (10) arranges symmetrically about the hub member.

4. The system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the hub member (20’) comprises lifting means, such as a winch, for supporting a payload (22).

5. The system of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the hub member comprises power and control means, for operating and controlling the aerial vehicles connected to the hub member.

6. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the aerial vehicles are unmanned aerial vehicles having at least one electric motor (13).

7. The system of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the power generator (40) comprises a prime mover and an electric power generator.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the prime mover is a gas turbine engine or a reciprocating engine.

9. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the power generator (40) comprises one or more fuel cells.