Aerial Vehicle and Method of Flight

• US 20130062457A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Athene Works Limited
• Original Assignee: Athene Works Limited
• Inventors: Deakin, Nicholas James
• Application Number:
  US13/636,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/25
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/02 Non-rigid airships B64B1/58 takes precedence; balloons B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/08 Framework construction
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/10 Tail unit construction B64B1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/12 Movable control surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/14 Outer covering
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/20 provided with wings or stabilising surfaces tail unit construction B64B1/10; movable control surfaces B64B1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/38 Controlling position of centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/64 Gas valve operating mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 2201/00 Hybrid airships, i.e. airships where lift is generated aerodynamically and statically
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/12 using turbine engines, e.g. turbojets or turbofans
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/15 using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas

Abstract

An aerial vehicle is described which comprises:

• • a first compartment for holding a lighter than air gas;
  • a second compartment for holding atmospheric air and having an inlet and an outlet;
  • a solar panel for converting sunlight into electricity;
  • a compressor for pumping atmospheric air through the inlet into the second compartment;
  • control means for controlling the pitch and yaw of the vehicle; and
    a controller for controlling the buoyancy of the vehicle via the compressor and the outlet such that the vehicle is either lighter than the surrounding air and rising or heavier than the surrounding air and falling, and for controlling the control means such that the rising and falling motion includes a horizontal component.

In another embodiment the solar panel is replaced by an engine and a fuel tank for storing fuel for the engine is also provided.

The aerial vehicle can remain airborne for extended periods by using buoyancy propulsion.

In the embodiments including a solar panel, a system including a light transmission station may be provided to supply energy to the solar panel from the light transmission station rather than relying on the incident sunlight alone.

A method of flight using buoyancy propulsion is also described.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle comprising:

a first compartment for holding a lighter than air gas;

a second compartment for holding atmospheric air and having an inlet and an outlet;

a solar panel for converting sunlight into electricity;

a compressor for pumping atmospheric air through the inlet into the second compartment;

control means for controlling the pitch and yaw of the vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the buoyancy of the vehicle via the compressor and the outlet such that the vehicle is either lighter than the surrounding air and rising or heavier than the surrounding air and falling, and for controlling the control means such that the rising and falling motion includes a horizontal component.

4. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle creates substantially no aerodynamic lift at a zero degree angle of attack.

5. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle further comprises a nacelle, and wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are both contained within the nacelle.

6. An aerial vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the nacelle has an outer surface which defines a body of revolution or an aerofoil.

7. An aerial vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the nacelle is transparent and the solar panel is contained within the nacelle.

8. An aerial vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a parabolic mirror associated with the solar panel for focussing sunlight onto the solar panel.

9. An aerial vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising an actuator for changing the orientation of the solar panel and/or the parabolic mirror relative to the vehicle.

10. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wing.

11. An aerial vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the at least one wing comprises the solar panel.

12. An aerial vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the solar panel is positioned on the underside of the at least one wing.

13. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the nacelle is an aerofoil with a ratio of thickness to chord length between approximately 5% and approximately 35%.

14. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a wall of the first compartment may comprise a barrier layer for limiting loss of the lighter than air gas through the wall of the compartment.

15. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a third compartment for holding a refrigerant which can undergo a reversible phase change from a gas into a liquid.

17. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver for providing a wireless communications network.

19. An aerial vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the at least one receiver comprises an antenna formed by a metallised track having an undulating pattern.

21. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a movable mass.

22. An aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an electrolyser for electrolysing water into hydrogen and oxygen.

24. An aerial vehicle system comprising:

an aerial vehicle according to claim 1; and

an electromagnetic radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation for reception by the solar panel.

2. An aerial vehicle comprising:

a first compartment for holding a lighter than air gas;

a second compartment for holding atmospheric air and having an inlet and an outlet;

an engine;

a fuel tank for storing fuel for use by the engine;

a compressor for pumping atmospheric air through the inlet into the second compartment;

control means for controlling the pitch and yaw of the vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the buoyancy of the vehicle via the compressor and the outlet such that the vehicle is either lighter than the surrounding air and rising or heavier than the surrounding air and falling, and for controlling the control means such that the rising and falling motion includes a horizontal component.

3. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

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23. (canceled)

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26. (canceled)

27. A method of flight for an aerial vehicle comprising a first compartment filled with a lighter than air gas and a second compartment for holding atmospheric air, the method comprising:

alternately compressing atmospheric air into the second compartment and then releasing the compressed atmospheric air from the second compartment, thereby altering the buoyancy of the aerial vehicle such that it is either heavier than air and falling or lighter than air and rising; and

actuating at least one control surface such that the rising and falling motion includes a horizontal component.