METHODS FOR FUEL-EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO BY AIRCRAFT

• US 20090114773A1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elie Helou Jr.
• Original Assignee: Elie Helou Jr.
• Inventors: Helou, Elie JR.
• Application Number:
  US11/935,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20090114773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/137.100
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/10 Bulkheads
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/22 Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading , e.g. cargo bays, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 17/08 by ballast supply or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/02 the air being pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/06 the air being conditioned pressurising B64D13/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0629 with subsystems for cooling food, catering or special loads
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A fuel-efficient method for transporting cargo to a desired location via an aircraft. The method comprises determining the weight of the cargo capable of being transported in a single container, selecting a container having a sufficient weight capacity to support the cargo based on the determined weight of the cargo, and filling the selected container with the cargo. The filled container is loaded onto a location on the aircraft beam relative to the aircraft'"'"'s CG based on the weight of the filled container to stay within the acceptable CG range for the aircraft. The filled containers having the greater weight are positioned on the beam at or adjacent to the aircraft'"'"'s CG and the filled containers having lower weight are positioned farther from the aircraft'"'"'s CG. The containers provide strength and rigidity to the beam to sustain the bending and torsional loads in flight.

Claims

1. A fuel-efficient method for transporting cargo to a desired location via an aircraft having a forward fuselage, an empennage, wings, and a beam structure connecting the forward fuselage and the empennage, the aircraft having a center of gravity (CG) range acceptable for flight, the method comprising:

determining the weight of the cargo capable of being transported in a single container;

selecting a container having a sufficient weight capacity to support the cargo based on the determined weight of the cargo;

filling the selected container with the cargo;

loading the filled container onto a location on the aircraft beam relative to the aircraft'"'"'s CG based on the weight of the filled container to maintain the aircraft CG within the range acceptable for flight;

wherein the filled containers having the higher weight are positioned on the beam at or adjacent to the aircraft'"'"'s CG;

wherein filled containers having lower total weight are positioned farther from the aircraft'"'"'s CG; and

wherein the filled containers provide strength and rigidity to the aircraft beam to sustain the bending and torsional loads in flight when it is loaded onto the aircraft beam.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises adjusting the CG of the loaded aircraft by changing the location on the beam where the containers are placed.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises providing customized individual environmental controls to each of the containers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the environmental controls include temperature and pressure controls.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein temperature control is provided by a heating grid contained within the container and an electrical connection from the aircraft to the heating grid.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein temperature control is provided by feeding bleed air from the aircraft engine into the container.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein pressure control is provided by regulating input of bleed air fed from the aircraft engine into the container and output of air from the container exit port.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling together filled containers having approximately the same total weight before the step of loading the filled container onto the aircraft beam.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising detachably mounting the containers onto the beam of the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising detachably attaching together adjacent containers.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining wind conditions relative to the direction of travel of the cargo drone aircraft in flight;

adjusting the engine output of the cargo drone aircraft based on the determined wind conditions;

causing a reduction of the engine output of the cargo drone aircraft upon determining the existence of a favorable wind condition; and

resuming engine output of the cargo drone aircraft upon determining the absence of a favorable wind condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the favorable wind condition is an updraft or lift.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the favorable wind condition is a wind having a direction that is substantially the same as the direction of travel of the cargo drone aircraft in flight.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the favorable wind condition is a wind having a direction substantially toward the final destination.

15. A fuel-efficient method for flying a cargo drone aircraft having a forward fuselage, an empennage, wings, and a beam structure connecting the forward fuselage and the empennage, the method comprising:

determining wind conditions relative to the direction of travel of the cargo drone aircraft;

adjusting the engine output of the cargo drone aircraft based on the determined wind condition;

causing a reduction of the engine output of the cargo drone aircraft upon determining the existence of a favorable wind condition; and

resuming engine output of the cargo drone aircraft upon determining the absence of a favorable wind condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the favorable wind condition is an updraft or lift.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the favorable wind condition is a wind having a direction that is substantially the same as the direction of travel of the cargo drone aircraft in flight.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the favorable wind condition is a wind having a direction substantially toward the final destination.