Long Range Electric Aircraft and Method of Operating Same

• US 20140339371A1
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ampaire, Inc.
• Original Assignee: W.Morrison Consulting Group, Inc.
• Inventors: YATES, William M., USSERY, Robert, YOUNG, Byron
• Granted Patent: US 9,340,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/53.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/60 Take-off or landing of UAVs from a runway using their own power

Abstract

Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, through the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) packs flying independent of and in proximity to the electric aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

a propulsion system powered at least in part by electricity;

a battery capable of maintaining an electric charge for providing power to the propulsion system; and

a connection configured to transfer electricity from a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pack during flight, wherein the UAV pack is flying in proximity to the aircraft.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising:

a deployable cable configured to provide an electrical connection with the UAV pack during flight, wherein the electricity is transferred from the UAV pack through the cable.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the aircraft is capable of reeling out the deployable cable so that it can connect with the UAV pack.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising:

a deployable boom configured to provide an electrical connection with the UAV pack during flight, wherein the electricity is transferred from the UAV pack through the cable.

5. The aircraft of claim 4, wherein the aircraft is capable of extending the boom so that it can connect with the UAV pack.

6. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the connection is configured to receive a cable extended from the UAV pack, wherein the electricity is transferred from the UAV pack through the cable.

7. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the connection is configured to receive an extendible boom from the UAV pack, wherein the electricity is transferred from the UAV pack through the boom.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the transfer of electricity from the UAV is provided to the aircraft propulsion system.

9. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the transfer of electricity is provided to the aircraft battery.

10. The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more docking devices, wherein the one or more clocking devices are selected from a group of devices comprising optical, electro-mechanical and magnetic devices.

11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pack comprising:

a propulsion system; and

an electricity source configured for transferring electricity, in-flight, to an aircraft having a propulsion system that is, at least in part, powered by electricity, when the UAV pack is flying in proximity to the aircraft.

12. The UAV pack of claim 11, wherein the electricity source is a battery.

13. The UAV pack of claim 11, wherein the electricity source is a generator.

14. The UAV pack of claim 11, wherein the UAV pack is manned.

15. The UAV pack of claim 11 further comprising:

a charging cable capable of being extended between the UAV pack and the aircraft, wherein the electricity is transferred from the UAV pack to the aircraft through the cable.

16. The UAV pack of claim 11 further comprising:

a boom capable of being extended from the UAV pack to the aircraft, wherein the electricity is transferred from the UAV pack to the aircraft through the boom.

17. The UAV pack of claim 11, wherein the electricity source has a voltage that is greater than a voltage associated with the aircraft.

18. An in-flight charging method for an aircraft having an electrically powered propulsion system and at least one battery, said method comprising:

establishing, while in-flight, an electrical connection between the aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pack flying in proximity to the aircraft; and

transferring electricity from an electricity source associated with the UAV pack to the aircraft through the electrical connection.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein establishing an electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV pack comprises:

extending one of a charging cable or a boom between the aircraft and the UAV, and wherein the electricity is transferred from the electricity source associated with the UAV to the aircraft through the charging cable or boom.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein extending the charging cable or boom between the aircraft and the UAV comprises:

extending the charging cable or boom from the UAV to the aircraft, and wherein the aircraft is behind the UAV and the charging cable or boom becomes mechanically connected to the aircraft.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the UAV tows the aircraft after the charging cable or boom becomes mechanically connected to the aircraft.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein extending the charging cable or boom between the aircraft and the UAV comprises:

extending the charging cable or boom from the aircraft to the UAV, and wherein the UAV is behind the aircraft and the charging cable or boom becomes mechanically connected to the UAV.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein transferring electricity from the electricity source associated with the UAV pack to the aircraft comprises:

transferring electricity to the aircraft propulsion system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein transferring electricity from the electricity source associated with the UAV pack to the aircraft further comprises:

transferring electricity to the at least one aircraft battery.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

flying the UAV pack such that it has a constant trajectory, altitude and speed prior to the establishment of the electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein establishing an electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV pack comprises extending a charging cable between the aircraft and the UAV pack, and wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the tension on the charging cable; and

maintaining a desired tension level on the charging cable by adjusting the forward propulsion of the aircraft, UAV pack or both.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein monitoring the tension on the charging cable comprises:

determining the tension using a strain gauge.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein monitoring the tension on the charging cable comprises:

determining and comparing the relative positions of the UAV pack and the aircraft.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

transmitting position information between the aircraft and the UAV pack over a wireless connection.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein monitoring the tension on the charging cable comprises:

determining and comparing the relative speeds of the UAV pack and the aircraft.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

transmitting speed information between the aircraft and the UAV pack over a wireless connection.