Zero emitting electric air vehicle with semi-annular wing

• US 20040069897A1
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William L. Corcoran
• Original Assignee: William L. Corcoran
• Inventors: Corcoran, William L.
• Application Number:
  US10/353,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069897A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/066 having channel wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/12 Canard-type aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/005 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A zero emissions (non-polluting) electric powered air vehicle having dual lifting surfaces comprised of a blended wing-body and a semi-annular upper wing, the blended body comprising a fuselage volumetrically sized to house a fuel supply and propulsion subsystems, electric motors driving propellers to provide forward thrust for propelling the aircraft, a nacelle for carrying passengers, a source of fuel for supplying an electrochemical process that generates electric power, a ballistic parachute for safe descent of the passenger cabin in an emergency, and landing gear has been described. The electrochemical process emission is water in one embodiment of the present invention. Another embodiment describes is an unmanned version of the present invention. A further embodiment describes an auxiliary power source from externally mounted PV cells that convert solar energy to electricity wherein the auxiliary power is used to recover fuel from the water emissions by an electrolytic process.

Claims

1. An air vehicle with virtually no polluting emissions comprising:

an engine;

a propulsion system;

a fuselage for storing a source of fuel;

a nacelle for carrying passengers;

a semi-annular wing for providing lift; and

landing gear, wherein

the engine is an electric motor and wherein the propulsion system further comprising a propeller for propelling the air vehicle, the propeller being driven by the electric motor.

2. The air vehicle of claim [c1] wherein the fuel is hydrogen and oxygen and further comprising a means for converting the fuel to electric current for powering the electric motor.

3. The air vehicle of claim [c2] wherein the means for converting the fuel to electric current comprising a fuel cell.

4. The air vehicle of claim [c1] further comprising a canard wing for resisting stall and providing some pitch and roll stability and control.

5. The air vehicle of claim [c1] further comprising a ballistic parachute positioned to the aft and on the upper surface of the nacelle for lowering the passengers safely when said ballistic parachute is deployed.

6. The air vehicle of claim [c5] further comprising a disengagement device for disengaging the nacelle from the fuselage upon an event wherein the ballistic parachute is deployed when the nacelle has become disengaged from the fuselage.

7. The air vehicle of claim [c3] further comprising a supplemental power system for generating electrical power.

8. The air vehicle of claim [c7] wherein the supplemental power system comprising:

photovoltaic collectors positioned on the aircraft'"'"'s outer surface for harvesting solar energy; and

photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy into electrical energy.

9. The air vehicle of claim [c8] further comprising:

an emissions collector for collecting and storing water emission from the fuel cell;

an electrolytic processor for generating hydrogen and oxygen from the water emission;

an oxygen charger for charging spent fuel tanks with generated oxygen;

a hydrogen charger for charging spent fuel tanks with generated hydrogen wherein the electrolytic processor, the oxygen charger and the hydrogen charger are powered by the supplementary power system.

10. The air vehicle of claim [c8] wherein the supplemental power system powers one or more devices from the group of devices comprising:

an electrolytic processor for generating hydrogen and oxygen from water;

a charger for charging electric storage batteries; and

an electronic supply integrator for integrating electric power supplies.

11. An air vehicle comprising:

a propulsion system including at least one electrical engine and at least one fuel cell;

a fuselage holding the at least one engine and at least one fuel cell;

a semi-annular wing;

landing gear;

an emissions collector for collecting and storing water emission from the at least one fuel cell;

an electrolytic processor for generating hydrogen and oxygen from the water emission;

an oxygen charger for charging spent fuel tanks with generated oxygen;

a hydrogen charger for charging spent fuel tanks with generated hydrogen;

wherein the electrolytic processor, the oxygen charger and the hydrogen charger are powered by a supplementary power system.

12. The air vehicle of [c11] wherein further comprising a supplemental power system comprising:

photovoltaic collectors positioned on the aircraft'"'"'s outer surface; and

photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy into electrical energy.

13. The air vehicle of claim [c12] wherein the supplemental power system powers one or more devices from the group of devices comprising:

an electrolytic processor for generating hydrogen and oxygen from water;

a charger for charging electric storage batteries; and

an electronic supply integrator for integrating electric power supplies.

14. The air vehicle of claim [c11] further comprising a canard wing.

15. The air vehicle of claim [c12] further comprising:

an emissions collector for collecting and storing water emission from the fuel cell;

an electrolytic processor for generating hydrogen and oxygen from the water emission;

an oxygen charger for charging spent fuel tanks with generated oxygen;

a hydrogen charger for charging spent fuel tanks with generated hydrogen;

wherein the electrolytic processor, the oxygen charger and the hydrogen charger are powered by the supplementary power system.