Hybrid power rotary wing aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorLeo J. Luyks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary wing aircraft includes a main rotor; an electric motor for rotating the main rotor; an electric generator for supplying electric power to the electric motor; an engine for driving the generator; and battery storage for providing battery power. The aircraft further includes a flight control system for controlling the engine to run at idle and causing the electric motor to receive the battery power to rotate the main rotor during takeoff; for controlling the engine to increase speed above idle and operate the generator to recharge the battery storage during flight; and for controlling the engine to return to idle and controlling the electric motor to receive the battery power for landing.
Claims10
A rotary wing aircraft comprising:
- a main rotor;
- an electric motor for rotating the main rotor;
- an electric generator for supplying electric power to the electric motor;
- an engine for driving the generator;
- battery storage for providing battery power;
- and
- a flight control system for controlling the engine to run at idle and causing the electric motor to receive the battery power to rotate the main rotor during takeoff;
- for controlling the engine to increase speed above idle and operate the generator to recharge the battery storage during flight;
- and for controlling the engine to return to idle and controlling the electric motor to receive the battery power for landing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.