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US 10,967,984 B2Granted
Hybrid aircraft
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsNeal Herbert Willford, Travis Cottrell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft where an engine creates mechanical energy. That energy is then converted into another transmittable form, e.g., electrical using a generator, or hydraulic using a pump, and is delivered to remotely-located motors and thrusters, e.g., propellers at one or more locations on the aircraft. The general concept makes the engine as well as the motors used scalable to accomplish overall efficiency objectives.
Claims19
A system of fixed-wing aircraft, the system comprising:
- a turbine engine located in the fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft, the engine configured to create mechanical energy, the engine being rated in-between 500 HP and 2000 HP (373-1492 KW);
- a conversion device configured to convert the mechanical energy created by the engine into a transmittable form;
- a first motor, the first motor configured to receive the form of energy from the conversion device and rotate a first thrust-creating device, both the first motor and the first thrust-creating device being located remotely relative to the turbine engine.
A method of propelling a fixed wing aircraft, the method comprising:
- locating an engine in a fuselage of the fixed wing aircraft;
- configuring the engine to create mechanical energy at a rating between 500 HP and 2000 HP (373-1492 KW);
- converting the mechanical energy into one of electrical or hydraulic energy;
- delivering the energy to a plurality of motors, each motor being associated with a respective thrust-creating device, the thrust-creating devices being remotely and symmetrically located relative to the engine and being oriented to propel the fixed wing aircraft, and
- scaling the motors in the plurality relative to a turbine engine rating such that the overall operational efficiency exceeds that of an alternative sysem wherein the motors are mechanically-linked to the engine.
2 more elements
A process comprising:
- providing a fuel-driven engine and an energy-conversion device in the fuselage of a fixed wing aircraft;
- connecting the energy-conversion device to a plurality of motors being spaced apart from the engine at a plurality of locations on the aircraft using one of:
- hydraulic lines and electrical wiring;
- configuring the motors to operate using energy received from the energy-conversion device and to each drive a thrust-generating device to create thrust;
- and
- scaling:
- (i) an engine rating, the engine rating being between 500 HP and 2000 HP (373-1492 KW);
- and
- (ii) a number of motors in the plurality, each motor being rated at a value substantially equal to the engine rating divided by the number of motors;
- to optimize fuel efficiency in an overall fixed-wing aircraft design.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.