US 12,221,217 B2
Aerial vehicle with hybrid drive and rotor unit including rotor shafts coupled by inclined synchro gear wheels
Lukas Obrist, Kaiseraugst (CH)
Assigned to SWISSDRONES OPERATING AG, Buchs (CH)
Appl. No. 17/758,473
Filed by SWISSDRONES OPERATING AG, Buchs (CH)
PCT Filed Jan. 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/050190
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/140153, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 15, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20150757 (EP), filed on Jan. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0036129 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 27/605 (2006.01); B64C 27/04 (2006.01); B64C 27/08 (2023.01); B64C 27/32 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); B64D 27/10 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2024.01); B64D 35/00 (2006.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/23 (2023.01); B64U 50/33 (2023.01); F02C 3/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 27/24 (2013.01) [B64C 27/08 (2013.01); B64C 27/32 (2013.01); B64C 27/605 (2013.01); B64D 27/10 (2013.01); B64D 35/00 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/23 (2023.01); B64U 50/33 (2023.01); F02C 3/00 (2013.01); B64C 27/04 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 27/026 (2024.01); F05D 2220/329 (2013.01); F05D 2220/76 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
a hybrid drive unit; and
a rotor unit,
wherein the hybrid drive unit comprises a combustion engine, a generator, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor,
wherein the rotor unit comprises a first rotor, and a second rotor,
wherein the combustion engine is configured to drive the generator to produce electricity,
wherein the generator is coupled to the first electric motor such that the first electric motor is feedable with electricity from the generator,
wherein the generator is coupled to the second electric motor such that the second electric motor is feedable with electricity from the generator,
wherein the first electric motor is coupled to the first rotor to drive the first rotor,
wherein the second electric motor is coupled to the second rotor to drive the second rotor,
wherein a shaft of the first rotor and a shaft of the second rotor are coupled to one another by a coupling unit,
wherein the coupling unit is a gear unit comprising a first synchro gear wheel being coupled to the shaft of the first rotor and a second synchro gear wheel being coupled to the shaft of the second rotor,
wherein the first synchro gear wheel directly engages with the second synchro gear wheel,
wherein the first synchro gear wheel as well as the shaft and rotor blades of the first rotor rotate about a common first rotational axis,
wherein the second synchro gear wheel as well as the shaft and rotor blades of the second rotor rotate about a common second rotational axis, and
wherein the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are inclined with regard to a vertical axis in opposite directions, wherein an inclination of the first and the second rotational axes with regard to the vertical axis is between 5° and 20°.