Hybrid electric power helicopter
First Claim
1. A method to enhance fuel efficiency of a rotary wing aircraft, the method comprising:
- providing the aircraft with a main rotor electric motor and operatively connecting the main rotor electric motor to a main rotor of the aircraft, whereby running the main rotor electric motor rotates the main rotor of the aircraft;
providing the aircraft with an engine;
providing the aircraft with a generator, operatively connecting the generator to the engine and operatively connecting the generator to the main rotor electric motor, whereby running the engine in turn operates the generator and the operating generator supplies electric power to the main rotor electric motor to run the main rotor electric motor and rotate the main rotor;
providing the aircraft with a battery, operatively connecting the battery to the generator and operatively connecting the battery to the main rotor electric motor;
providing the aircraft with a flight control system, the flight control system controlling the engine to run at idle during takeoff and the flight control system controlling the main rotor electric motor to use battery power to power the takoff of the aircraft;
following takeoff of the aircraft, the flight control system controlling the engine to increase speed above idle and operate the generator to recharge the battery during flight of the aircraft; and
,the flight control system controlling the engine to return to idle and the flight control system controlling the main rotor electric motor to use battery power to land the aircraft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A helicopter has a propulsion system that includes a diesel engine driven electric generator, battery storage, power inverters for converting AC current to DC current and converting DC current to AC current, and an electric motor powered main rotor and an electric motor powered tail rotor. The propulsion system is integrated with electric controls of the main rotor electric motor and the tail rotor electric motor to provide additional system efficiencies. The design of the helicopter allows a single engine helicopter to be just as safe as a twin engine design helicopter while consuming less fuel. The helicopter design also includes a main rotor tilt system which tilts the rotation axis of the main rotor forward during high-speed flight to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the helicopter airframe and rotary wing.
41 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method to enhance fuel efficiency of a rotary wing aircraft, the method comprising:
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providing the aircraft with a main rotor electric motor and operatively connecting the main rotor electric motor to a main rotor of the aircraft, whereby running the main rotor electric motor rotates the main rotor of the aircraft; providing the aircraft with an engine; providing the aircraft with a generator, operatively connecting the generator to the engine and operatively connecting the generator to the main rotor electric motor, whereby running the engine in turn operates the generator and the operating generator supplies electric power to the main rotor electric motor to run the main rotor electric motor and rotate the main rotor; providing the aircraft with a battery, operatively connecting the battery to the generator and operatively connecting the battery to the main rotor electric motor; providing the aircraft with a flight control system, the flight control system controlling the engine to run at idle during takeoff and the flight control system controlling the main rotor electric motor to use battery power to power the takoff of the aircraft; following takeoff of the aircraft, the flight control system controlling the engine to increase speed above idle and operate the generator to recharge the battery during flight of the aircraft; and
,the flight control system controlling the engine to return to idle and the flight control system controlling the main rotor electric motor to use battery power to land the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification