Patents Assigned to KOPTER GROUP AG
  • Publication number: 20230078649
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system with controllers and a drive shaft of a helicopter with a main rotor connected to a gearbox which can keep a flight attitude set by a pilot stable. It includes a pilot controller, a combustion engine and an electric motor, both of which act directly on the drive shaft. The VM is connected to a VM controller, and the EM is connected to an EM controller. One torque sensor and one tachometer are each arranged on the drive shaft, wherein during operation both the VM controller and the EM controller are able to receive values for the current speed and the current torque. Specified values for speed and torque, in which the VM can attain its optimum efficiency, are stored in memory and can be retrieved by the EM controller, wherein the first value can also be retrieved by the VM controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: KOPTER GROUP AG
    Inventors: Johann Werner HETTENKOFER, Detlev Matthias EVEN, Andreas Wilfried DUMMEL
  • Publication number: 20220048615
    Abstract: A drive unit, particularly for the main rotor of a rotary wing aircraft, comprises: a planetary gear mechanism including a plurality of planetary gears. Each planetary gear has at least one planet wheel with toothing and the planetary gears are arranged concentrically to a central axis inside the planetary gear mechanism so that a rotatable shaft, in particular a rotor shaft of the rotary wing aircraft, can be driven by the planetary gears or the sun wheel. A compact and simplified drive unit can be provided in a very wide range of fields of use, particularly for driving a main rotor of a rotary wing aircraft. This can be achieved in that a first drive, particularly an electric drive, is integrated into at least one planetary gear, comprising a planet wheel and a planet wheel carrier, to form a first drive unit, so that the shaft can be set rotating by the first drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: kopter group ag
    Inventors: Detlev Matthias EVEN, Johann Werner HETTENKOFER, Andreas DUMMEL, Andreas LÖWENSTEIN
  • Patent number: 11186385
    Abstract: A ground manoeuvering device comprises a housing with a fastening device for the skid, a hydraulic apparatus as well as an outer wheel and an inner wheel on two aligned horizontal axles on the hydraulic apparatus, respectively one on the inside and one on the outside beside the skid. The hydraulic apparatus comprises an extendable piston and an engagement shaft with a lever attached in a swivellable manner. When the lever is rocked, the piston is extended from the hydraulic apparatus and thereby lifts the housing vertically upwards. The engagement shaft is aligned in the wheel running direction and the lever extends, in the operating state, in the wheel axle direction of the outer wheel. In addition, the lever comprises a tread section, in order to raise the fastened skid onto the two wheels using the hydraulic apparatus while standing conveniently beside the helicopter repeatedly stepping with the foot on the tread section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: kopter group ag
    Inventor: Cosimo Donno
  • Publication number: 20210362844
    Abstract: A rotorcraft having an electric drive for driving a main rotor of a rotorcraft, more particularly a helicopter, the electric drive comprising: a coupler for coupling the electric drive to a rotor mast, which can be coupled for conjoint rotation with a drive unit of a helicopter rotor transmission, for coupling for conjoint rotation with the main rotor or tail rotor. A rotorcraft with an electric drive is provided with which the space requirement is reduced, the construction is simplified and the maintenance requirement is reduced. This problem is solved in that the electric drive is designed as an electric ring motor, with the electric ring motor being arranged and attached coaxially with the rotor mast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: kopter group ag
    Inventors: Johannes HETTENKOFER, Andreas DUMMEL, Detlev EVEN, Andreas LÖWENSTEIN
  • Patent number: 10766611
    Abstract: A helicopter rotor transmission in which the average lubricant monitoring and replenishment intervals are to be significantly increased. The helicopter rotor transmission has a central cavity, in which runs a bearing mast that is fixed in a locationally and rotationally manner, which is held passing through the gear housing at least partially in the direction of the central axis. An internally toothed gear ring of a rotatable rotor mast can be rotated about the central axis, with fixed rotation of the planetary gears about their planetary gear axes, such that the rotor mast can be set in rotation by means of a gear ring driver attached to the gear ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KOPTER GROUP AG
    Inventors: Roman Köstli, Martin Stucki
  • Patent number: 10759529
    Abstract: A rotor blade coupling device for coupling to a rotor mast having a rotor head centerpiece. The coupling device has at least three rotor blade mountings mounted on the rotor head centerpiece and accommodating at least three rotor blades lying in a rotor plane, and at least one connecting element between adjacent rotor blade mountings. The rotor blade mountings can carry out pivoting motions about a pivoting axis extending vertical to the rotor plane. The at least one connecting element is a damping device, and the rotor blade coupling device has a plate-shaped transfer element, which respectively crosses a rotor blade mounting and is coupled to at least one damping device. The rotor blade coupling device has a simplified design and ensures improved damping of lead-lag motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Kopter Group AG
    Inventors: Martin Stucki, Mario Caminada, Patrick Reginald Moser, Riekert Leibbrandt
  • Patent number: 10730614
    Abstract: In a rotor mast for a rotorcraft, the rotor mast can be coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive unit of a helicopter rotor transmission, which allows a particularly smooth running operation. This is achieved in that the rotor mast is configured in two parts, and comprises a bearing mast and an outer mast, with the outer mast, configured as a hollow body, is mounted, concentrically surrounding the bearing mast, such that it can rotate about a central axis relative to the bearing mast. The outer mast can be operatively connected with the helicopter rotor transmission, and the bearing mast can be mounted in the rotorcraft in a locationally and rotationally fixed manner, such that the outer mast can be coupled with a main rotor in a rotationally fixed manner, and can be set in rotation with the helicopter rotor transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOPTER GROUP AG
    Inventors: Roman Köstli, Martin Stucki
  • Publication number: 20190233134
    Abstract: A ground manoeuvering device comprises a housing with a fastening device for the skid, a hydraulic apparatus as well as an outer wheel and an inner wheel on two aligned horizontal axles on the hydraulic apparatus, respectively one on the inside and one on the outside beside the skid. The hydraulic apparatus comprises an extendable piston and an engagement shaft with a lever attached in a swivellable manner. When the lever is rocked, the piston is extended from the hydraulic apparatus and thereby lifts the housing vertically upwards. The engagement shaft is aligned in the wheel running direction and the lever extends, in the operating state, in the wheel axle direction of the outer wheel. In addition, the lever comprises a tread section, in order to raise the fastened skid onto the two wheels using the hydraulic apparatus while standing conveniently beside the helicopter repeatedly stepping with the foot on the tread section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: KOPTER GROUP AG
    Inventor: Cosimo DONNO
  • Patent number: 10343777
    Abstract: A helicopter load hook has a release mechanism that can be mounted in a fixed position in a housing for controllable identification and release of a swivel movement of a hook. The release mechanism includes a magnetic switch and a drum that can rotate. The release mechanism also includes at least one latching piece, which can be swivelled about a latching piece axis of rotation and at least one force receiver, which can be swivelled about a swivel axis, together with a pin. The pin can be connected with a locking lug on the drum together with a hook follower on the hook, such that an indirect connection between the hook and the drum, or more particularly, the magnetic switch, can be achieved, and any direct contact between the hook and the magnetic switch is eliminated. In the closed position of the hook the pin makes any swivelling movement of the hook impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: KOPTER GROUP AG
    Inventors: Martin Stucki, Cosimo Donno
  • Patent number: 10150565
    Abstract: A load hook substructure for attachment onto or into the cabin structure of a helicopter, having a housing in which a shaft with a hook attachment is mounted, such that a load hook can be connected with the shaft and thereby with the load hook substructure; this improves the flying characteristics of the helicopter in the case of flights with a load carried underneath. This is achieved in that the shaft passes through the interior of the housing in the longitudinal direction between a housing end wall and a housing wall, such that it can move linearly, and a return spring device is arranged between a damping plate arranged on the shaft and the housing end wall, and a damping device is arranged between the damping plate and the lower housing wall. The damping device has at least one flexibly compressible damping element, which develops a damping action in the event of a linear movement of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: KOPTER GROUP AG
    Inventors: Martin Stucki, Cosimo Donno
  • Patent number: D928071
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: kopter group ag
    Inventor: Andreas Löwenstein