发明名称 Aircraft thrust, assembly, and methods
摘要 Systems and methods for ground-based aircraft thrust systems are provided. In particular, some embodiments use an electromechanical thrust assembly to accelerate aircraft using ground-based energy for takeoff. The assembly can include one or more sleds, one or more maglev tracks, and/or one or more linear motors. Airplanes are loaded onto a sled (e.g., a saddle-shaped sled) that supports and balances the airplane instead of the landing gear aboard the aircraft. The sled levitates above the ground using high-density permanent magnet arrays. Magnetic levitation forces are varied along the assembly to account for lift provided by airflow over the wings. An aircraft thrust system includes a magnetically levitated saddle-shaped sled with airbags that support an aircraft during takeoff acceleration coupled with a linear motor that spans the length of the distance needed for takeoff.
申请公布号 US9079671(B2) 申请公布日期 2015.07.14
申请号 US201313747333 申请日期 2013.01.22
申请人 Exhaustless, Inc. 发明人 Endres Steven P.
分类号 B64F1/04;B64F1/06;B64F1/10 主分类号 B64F1/04
代理机构 Perkins Coie LLP 代理人 Perkins Coie LLP
主权项 1. A system comprising: a sled having airbags thereon adapted to grip an aircraft without a mechanical linkage to the aircraft while supporting the aircraft from underneath the aircraft; an electromagnetic catapult to accelerate the sled along a desired path, wherein the electromagnetic catapult includes a first series of magnets and a second series of magnets that are independently controlled, wherein the first set of magnets can be activated in a first sequence to propel the sled along the desired path and the second series of magnets can be activated in a second sequence to levitate the sled a constant distance above the ground; and an operational control subsystem to provide power switching times and duration to the first series of magnets and the second series of magnets to create a magnetic field to levitate and accelerate the sled.
地址 Ann Arbor MI US