Detachable power tethering systems for aircraft
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsAlbert G. Brand, Scott David Poster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric power tethering system for an aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode including a takeoff phase and/or a hover phase includes a surface power source and a power tether having a surface end configured to couple to the surface power source and an aircraft end configured to couple to the aircraft. The power tether is configured to transmit power from the surface power source to the aircraft in the takeoff phase and/or the hover phase. The power tether is detachable to decouple the surface power source from the aircraft in response to a power tether release event during flight.
Claims20
An electric power tethering system for an aircraft having a plurality of rotor systems, the aircraft convertible between a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode in which the rotor systems provide thrust-borne lift and a forward flight mode in which the rotor systems provide forward thrust, the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode including a takeoff phase and a hover phase, the system comprising:
- a surface power source;
- and
- a power tether having a surface end configured to couple to the surface power source and an aircraft end configured to couple to the aircraft, the power tether configured to transmit power from the surface power source to the aircraft in the takeoff phase and the hover phase;
- wherein the power tether is detachable to decouple the surface power source from the aircraft in response to the aircraft converting from the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode to the forward flight mode.
An aircraft system comprising:
- an eVTOL aircraft having a plurality of rotor systems, the aircraft convertible between a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode in which the rotor systems provide thrust-borne lift and a forward flight mode in which the rotor systems provide forward thrust, the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode including a takeoff phase and a hover phase;
- a surface power source;
- and
- a power tether having a surface end configured to couple to the surface power source and an aircraft end configured to couple to the aircraft, the power tether configured to transmit power from the surface power source to the aircraft in the takeoff phase and the hover phase;
- wherein the power tether is detachable to decouple the surface power source from the aircraft in response to the aircraft converting from the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode to the forward flight mode.
A method for providing electric power in an aircraft system comprising:
- attaching a surface power source to an electrically powered aircraft using a power tether, the aircraft having a plurality of rotor systems, the aircraft convertible between a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode in which the rotor systems provide thrust-borne lift and a forward flight mode in which the rotor systems provide forward thrust, the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode including a takeoff phase;
- providing electric power to the aircraft from the surface power source via the power tether during the takeoff phase;
- converting the aircraft from the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode to the forward flight mode;
- and
- detaching the surface power source from the aircraft in response to the aircraft converting from the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode to the forward flight mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.