Thrust force generation device and aircraft

• US 10,752,369 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takami, Hikaru, Yokoi, Yuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Claude J
• Application Number:
  US15/552,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20180044028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 244 55
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/026 comprising different types of power plants, e.g. combination of a piston engine and a gas-turbine Hybrid electric aircraft B64D27/33
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/12 within, or attached to, wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/18 within, or attached to, wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/40 Arrangements for mounting power plants in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/404 Suspension arrangements specially adapted for supporting vertical loads
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/04 having a turbine driving a compressor power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/00 Plural gas-turbine plants; Combinations of gas-turbine plants with other apparatus; Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for special use
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/20 Mounting or supporting of plant; Accommodating heat expansion or creep
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/06 with front fan
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 5/00 Plants including an engine, other than a gas turbine, driving a compressor or a ducted fan
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/76 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

The thrust force generation device is provided with: a turbo fan engine unit that includes a generator for generating power using a rotation force of a drive shaft, and that drives a fan placed on the drive shaft using gas produced by combusting fuel; a motor driven fan unit that includes a motor driven by power supplied from the generator, that is placed in parallel with the turbo fan engine unit, and that drives a fan by using the motor; and a conducting unit that connects the generator to the motor, and supplies the power generated by the generator to the motor. The turbo fan engine unit and the motor driven fan unit are integrated with each other, and the conducting unit is placed between the turbo fan engine unit and the motor driven fan unit.

Claims

1. A thrust force generation device, comprising:

a first thrust unit including a generator that generates power via rotational forces of a first drive shaft, and that drives a first fan provided on the first drive shaft with using gas produced by burning fuel;

a second thrust unit which is placed in parallel with the first thrust unit, including a motor which is provided on a second drive shaft with a second fan and which is driven by power supplied from the generator, the motor rotating the second drive shaft placed in parallel with the first drive shaft and driving the second fan; and

a conducting unit connecting the generator to the motor, that supplies the power generated by the generator to the motor;

wherein

the first thrust unit and the second thrust unit are integrated with each other; and

the conducting unit is placed between the first thrust unit and the second thrust unit.

2. The thrust force generation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first thrust unit and the second thrust unit are housed in a single housing.

3. The thrust force generation device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that adjusts thrust of the first thrust unit and the second thrust unit.

4. The thrust force generation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the conducting unit includes

a bus bar, and

a positional change absorber provided on the bus bar, that absorbs positional changes of the bus bar.

5. The thrust force generation device according to claim 4, wherein the positional change absorber is an elastic deforming member.

6. The thrust force generation device according to claim 4, wherein the positional change absorber is a net-like member of networked metal wire members or a spring member with elasticity or a bearing.

7. An aircraft, comprising:

the thrust force generation device according to claim 1; and

a single first supporting part for hanging and supporting the thrust force generation device.

8. The aircraft according to claim 7, further comprising a second supporting part joined to the first thrust unit and a main wing, that bears a tensile load.

9. The thrust force generation device according to claim 1, wherein the first thrust unit includes a core engine unit which drives the first fan.

10. The thrust force generation device according to claim 1, wherein the conducting unit mechanically connects the generator to the motor, and supplies the power generated by the generator to the motor.

11. The thrust force generation device according to claim 1, wherein the conducting unit is placed in a substantially linear form between the first thrust unit and the second thrust unit.