Cargo Transportation System having Perimeter Propulsion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019061925-A1
Application number	US-201715688165-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 28, 2017
Publication date	Feb 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cargo transportation system includes a cargo platform having an upper surface and a perimeter. A propulsion system is disposed about the perimeter of the cargo platform. The propulsion system includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies, each including a propulsion unit disposed within a housing defining an airflow channel having an air inlet for incoming air and an air outlet for outgoing air such that the outgoing air is operable to generate at least vertical lift. A power system disposed within the cargo platform provides energy to drive the propulsion system. A flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system and the power system controls flight operations of the cargo transportation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cargo transportation system comprising:
a cargo platform having an upper surface and a perimeter; a propulsion system disposed about the perimeter of the cargo platform, the propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies, each propulsion assembly including a propulsion unit disposed within a housing defining an airflow channel having an air inlet for incoming air and an air outlet for outgoing air, the outgoing air operable to generate at least vertical lift; a power system at least partially disposed within the cargo platform, the power system providing energy to drive the propulsion system; and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system and the power system.

2 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the cargo platform further comprises a generally planar upper surface.

3 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tie down anchors coupled to the cargo platform.

4 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion units further comprise cross-flow fans.

5 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion units further comprise variable thrust cross-flow fans.

6 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 5 wherein the variable thrust cross-flow fans further comprise variable pitch cross-flow fans.

7 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 6 wherein each of the variable pitch cross-flow fans further comprises:
a cross-flow fan assembly having a longitudinal axis and including first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades rotatably mounted therebetween, the blades disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis such that the blades travel in a generally circular path when the cross-flow fan assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis, the plurality of blades moveable between a plurality of pitch angle configurations; and
a control assembly operably associated with the cross-flow fan assembly, the control assembly operable to change the pitch angle configuration of the plurality of blades to generate variable thrust.

8 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 5 wherein the variable thrust cross-flow fans further comprise variable speed cross-flow fans.

9 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 8 wherein each of the variable speed cross-flow fans further comprises:
a cross-flow fan assembly having a longitudinal axis and including first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades fixably mounted therebetween, the blades disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis such that the blades travel in a generally circular path when the cross-flow fan assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis.

10 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein, for each propulsion assembly, the air inlet and the air outlet of the airflow channel are generally inline.

11 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein, for each propulsion assembly, the air inlet and the air outlet of the airflow channel are angularly offset.

12 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein, for at least one of the propulsion assemblies, the air inlet and the air outlet of the airflow channel are generally inline and for at least another of the propulsion assemblies, the air inlet and the air outlet of the airflow channel are angularly offset.

13 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion assemblies further comprise thrust vectoring propulsion assemblies.

14 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 further comprising one or more propulsors coupled to the cargo platform operable to generate at least forward thrust.

15 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the power system further comprises at least one of an electric power system or an internal combustion power system.

16 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the power system further comprises at least one of a hybrid internal combustion and electric power system or a hybrid internal combustion and hydraulic power system.

17 . A cargo transportation system comprising:
a cargo platform having an upper surface and a perimeter; a propulsion system disposed about the perimeter of the cargo platform, the propulsion system including a plurality of thrust vectoring propulsion assemblies, each propulsion assembly including a variable pitch cross-flow fan disposed within a housing defining an airflow channel having an air inlet for incoming air and an air outlet for outgoing air that are generally inline, the outgoing air operable to generate vertical lift and directional thrust; a power system at least partially disposed within the cargo platform, the power system providing energy to drive the propulsion system; and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system and the power system.

18 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 17 wherein each of the variable pitch cross-flow fans further comprises:
a cross-flow fan assembly having a longitudinal axis and including first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades rotatably mounted therebetween, the blades disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis such that the blades travel in a generally circular path when the cross-flow fan assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis, the plurality of blades moveable between a plurality of pitch angle configurations; and
a control assembly operably associated with the cross-flow fan assembly, the control assembly operable to change the pitch angle configuration of the plurality of blades to generate variable thrust.

19 . A cargo transportation system comprising:
a cargo platform having an upper surface and a perimeter; a propulsion system disposed about the perimeter of the cargo platform, the propulsion system including a plurality of thrust vectoring propulsion assemblies, each propulsion assembly including a variable speed cross-flow fan disposed within a housing defining an airflow channel having an air inlet for incoming air and an air outlet for outgoing air that are angularly offset, the outgoing air operable to generate vertical lift and directional thrust; a power system at least partially disposed within the cargo platform, the power system providing energy to drive the propulsion system; and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system and the power system.

20 . The cargo transportation system as recited in claim 19 wherein each of the variable speed cross-flow fans further comprises:
a cross-flow fan assembly having a longitudinal axis and including first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades fixably mounted therebetween, the blades disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis such that the blades travel in a generally circular path when the cross-flow fan assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Groninga Kirk Landon
• Robertson Daniel Bryan
• Zimmerman Brett Rodney

Classifications

• B64U50/11

  using internal combustion piston engines · CPC title

• B64U50/14

  ducted or shrouded · CPC title

• B64C25/52

  Skis or runners · CPC title

• B64C11/006

  Paddle wheels · CPC title

• B64D9/00

  Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like · CPC title