Remote engine/electric helicopter industrial plat form

• US 20100096490A1
• Filed: 10/18/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kevin Patrick Gordon
• Original Assignee: Kevin Patrick Gordon
• Inventors: Gordon, Kevin Patrick
• Application Number:
  US12/288,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096490A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/10 arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/022 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/299 Rotor guards ducted or shrouded rotors B64U30/26; guards used as ground propulsion B64U60/60
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/32 generated by fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/10 specially adapted for use on water
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft

Abstract

The invention is an unmanned flying helicopter aircraft platform (“aircraft platform”) that can be powered by either interchangeable electric motors or by fuel powered internal combustion engines. The aircraft platform is surrounded by a lightweight exoskeleton cage that protects the rotor blades from coming into contact with external objects. The aircraft platform uses a weight located on the bottom side of the aircraft platform that can be remotely moved to adjust the center of gravity in order to navigate in any direction. The aircraft platform has a place on its bottom side where attachments can be added or removed which allows the aircraft platform to be used for multiple different purposes. The aircraft platform can be flown and operated either remotely using a hand held control unit or it can be flown and operated by an onboard pilot located in the human carrying attachment.

Claims

1. An exoskeleton apparatus that surrounds the outer perimeter of the helicopter aircraft platform on all sides, including the rotor blades;

it is strong and lightweight and provides protection for the helicopter aircraft platform and prevents or reduces damage to the helicopter aircraft platform in case it comes into contact with an outside object;

it is attached to the bottom of the helicopter aircraft platform'"'"'s electric motors or internal combustion engines by bolts, screws, glue, epoxy or other appropriate means.

2. The exoskeleton apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the exoskeleton is made of tubes and columns that are close enough together to provide the stability and strength needed to protect the helicopter aircraft platform, but that are far enough apart to allow a sufficient amount of air to flow around them for the helicopter rotor blades to operate.

3. The exoskeleton apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising of attachable and detachable porous panels that can be added or removed from the sides, top, and bottom of the exoskeleton;

these panels act as screens that have large enough pours to allow a sufficient amount of air to flow around them for the helicopter rotor blades to operate, but that are close enough together to keep put things such as birds or other objects that could damage the helicopter aircraft platform if they were to come into contact with any of its parts;

they are attached to exoskeleton by means of bolts or screws that hold them in place.

4. The exoskeleton apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising of an interlocking system of two or more tubes and latches, as is needed, in multiple different groups, each located on the outward facing side of the exoskeleton on the sides, on the top, and on the bottom;

the tubes face outward and allow multiple exoskeletons, and thus helicopter aircraft platform, to be attached to each other by vertically stacking them on top of each other or attaching them horizontally to each other in different patterns;

this allows for the two or more helicopter aircraft platform to be attached or interlocked with each other and thus be operated as one helicopter aircraft platform aircraft providing great lifting and carrying power.

5. The exoskeleton apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an attachment receiving and holding apparatus located on the bottom side of the exoskeleton consisting of hook like holding cradles to which attachments of various types and capabilities or uses can be attached or connected to the bottom of the exoskeleton and thus be carried with the helicopter aircraft platform to which the exoskeleton is attached.

6. The exoskeleton apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising of a horizontal propulsion attachment that attaches to the top of the exoskeleton and that contains either one or more horizontal airplane propellers that are turned by either electric motors or fuel powered internal combustion engines;

the horizontal propulsion attachment can be used to propel the helicopter aircraft platform forward at greater speeds than could be achieved without it or it can help slow the helicopter aircraft platform down by reversing the direction of the rotation of the airplane propellers;

the horizontal propulsion attachment attaches or is fixed firmly to the top of the exoskeleton by the use of multiple bolts or screws.

7. A telescoping arm attachment apparatus that can be attached to or removed from the bottom of the exoskeleton recited in claim 1 by means of the attachment receiving and holding apparatus recited in claim 5;

the telescoping arm apparatus runs vertically and can extend and retract by use of interlocking telescoping hollow tubes that are lowered or raised by use of an electric winch and cable;

each consecutive section is a little smaller than the one above it which allows each section to fit firmly into the section above it when the telescoping arm is raised;

the electric motor turns a drum that the cable is attached to and the cable is wound up or coiled around the drum as it turns;

this raises or lowers the telescoping arm depending on which direction the motor turns;

the electric motor turns a series of gears that result in a large amount of weight being able to be raised or lowered as the drum is turned and the winch cable is raised or lowered;

the cable runs or travels through the center of the hollow telescoping tubes and attaches to either to a horizontal bar connecting the attachment hooks located at the lower end of the last or lowest telescoping hollow tube or to a horizontal rod that runs across the bottom center of the last bottom or lowest tube section to which it is attached.

8. The telescoping arm attachment as recited in claim 7, further comprises a horizontal rod that extends a short distance past the bottom edge of the last or lowest tube section and fits into angled slits that it slides into when the winch is raised;

there are two circular discs that are attached to each end of the horizontal rod and that run perpendicular to it;

these keep the horizontal rod from moving past the edges of the last or lowest tube section;

attached to this rod are either one or two hooks or other attachment apparatus, as needed, that a load or other item can be attached to in order to be raised, lifted, lowered, or set down.

9. The telescoping arm attachment as recited in claim 7, further comprises an electric motor that turns a series of gears that are attached to the upper most section of the vertical telescoping arm and that turn the vertical telescoping arm left, right, clockwise, or counter clockwise;

this causes the load attached to the end of the hooks or other attachment apparatus, as recited in claim 8, to be turned left, right, clockwise, or counter clockwise.

10. The telescoping arm attachment as recited in claim 7, further comprises a set of guiding grooves located on the inside of each section of the vertical telescoping arm;

the outside of each section of the vertical telescoping arm has a raised or protruding section that fits into the inside of the groove in the next section;

this causes the next lower section to turn left, right, clockwise, or counter clockwise, when the tube above it is turned.

11. The telescoping arm attachment as recited in claim 7, further comprises a protruding horizontal edge or lip that extends inward at the lowest end of each of the telescoping tube sections;

further, there is a horizontal lip or edge that protrudes outward at the highest or upper end of each telescoping section;

when the telescoping arm is extended and these two edges come into contact with each other it prevents the telescoping tube sections from moving completely past each other and prevents the telescoping arm from coming apart.

12. A human carrying transport attachment that can be attached to or removed from the bottom of the exoskeleton by means of the attachment receiving and holding apparatus recited in claim 5;

the human carrying transport attachment can carry one or more human beings and allows for a human being to operate or pilot the helicopter aircraft platform by using a remote hand held control device that operates the helicopter aircraft platform using radio, infrared, or satellite signals.

13. The human carrying transport attachment recited in claim 12, further comprises a compartment that is enclosed on all sides with front, side, and rear windows for viewing.

14. The human carrying transport attachment recited in claim 12, further comprises a global positioning system and computer integrated system that can fly the helicopter aircraft platform automatically when the location or desired instructions are entered into the computer system or someone located on the ground can fly it remotely or a human being located in the human carrying transport attachment can operate or pilot the helicopter aircraft platform by use of the hand held control unit using radio, infrared, or satellite control signals.

15. A fire fighting water hose attachment that can be attached to or removed from the bottom of the exoskeleton by means of the attachment receiving and holding apparatus recited in claim 5;

it comprises a partially enclosed compartment that provides a horizontal platform to which a water hose spout is attached.

16. The fire fighting water hose attachment cited in claim 15, further comprising of a water hose spout that is attached to a ball and socket joint that allows it to turn 360 degrees and tilt upward or down;

it can be turned and tilted remotely by use of electric motors that are controlled by a human operator located on the ground.

17. The fire fighting water hose attachment cited in claim 15, further comprising of a water tank and pump that enables the water to be pumped out of the water house spout with enough force to spray a significant distance in order to put out a fire.

18. The fire fighting water hose attachment cited in claim 15, further has an apparatus that allows for a fire hose on the ground to be attached to the fire hose spout so that a steady flow of water can be provided from the a fire hydrant, fire truck, or other means.

19. The fire fighting water hose attachment cited in claim 15, further comprising of multiple video cameras, microphones, and speakers whose video and sound is remotely conveyed to the hand held remote control system so the operator on the ground can view where to spray the water and can hear and talk back to any people in the vicinity of the helicopter aircraft platform.

20. A navigation apparatus for helicopter aircraft platform that enables it to travel or move in different directions or to hover in place.

21. The navigation apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein a horizontal conveyer belt runs from one side of the bottom of the helicopter aircraft platform to the other side in a straight line and is turned by an electric motor.

22. The navigation apparatus as recited in claim 20, further has a weight securely attached to the bottom of the conveyer belt;

the weight is moved from one side of the bottom of the helicopter aircraft platform or to the other as the conveyer belt moves;

as the weight moves it shifts the center of gravity and thus causes the helicopter aircraft, along with its rotors to tilt in the direction of the weight'"'"'s movement and fly in that direction;

when the weight is moved directly to the center of gravity of the helicopter aircraft platform then the helicopter aircraft platform hovers;

when the helicopter aircraft platform rotates the convey belt and the weight attached to it rotate and cause the helicopter aircraft platform to move in whichever direction the side where the weight is currently located is pointed at that moment since that is the direction the helicopter aircraft platform is tilted towards.