Power line sentry charging

• US 7,398,946 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Marshall, Patrick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mansen; Michael R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Michener; Joshua J
• Application Number:
  US11/169,259
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 244 53 R- 53 B, 244/110.C, 244/110.E, 244/110.F, 244/110.R, 244/110.G, 244/11, 244/100.R, 244/12.3, 244/12.1, 191/10, 320/108, 320/109
• US Class Current: 244/58
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• 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 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A rechargeable battery energized unmanned aerial vehicle having surveillance capability and an ability to clandestinely collect propulsion and other energy needs from a conveniently located and possibly enemy owned energy transmission line. Energy collection is by way of a parked vehicle engagement with the transmission line in a current flow dependent, magnetic field determined, rather than shunt, voltage dependent, conductor coupling. Surveillance during both a parked or docked condition and during aerial vehicle movement is contemplated.

Claims

1. Unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus comprising the combination of:

a miniature sub human sized propeller driven aerial vehicle of electro-optic sensor apparatus carrying capability;

electrical motor driven propulsion apparatus received in said aerial vehicle;

rechargeable electrical battery apparatus received in said aerial vehicle and selectively connected with said electrical motor in aerial vehicle propulsion energization thereof;

an electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus saliently located on an upper portion of said aerial vehicle and having a magnetic circuit aperture portion disposable in at least partial encirclement of an overhead suspended electrical current conveying tension member conductor during a temporary parking of said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus on said tension member;

selective electrical circuit apparatus interconnecting an electrical output of said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus with said rechargeable electrical battery apparatus and with said electro-optic sensor apparatus in battery charging electrical energization thereof; and

radiant energy communication apparatus energized by said electrical battery apparatus and interconnecting said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus with ground based sources of command and control signals and receptors of said unmanned aerial vehicle collected electro-optic sensor data.

2. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said miniature sub human sized propeller driven aerial vehicle is a winged aircraft.

3. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus includes a movable magnetic circuit portion disposable in a first open jaw magnetic circuit position and in a second closed and substantially air gap free magnetic circuit position.

4. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus includes a hook shaped portion capable of supporting said aerial surveillance apparatus in physical suspension from said suspended electrical current conveying tension member conductor.

5. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus includes a “

C”

Shaped laminated magnetic core.

6. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus “

C”

shaped laminated magnetic core includes one of a lamination interleaved movable arm core portion and a machined surfaces engaging movable core portion.

7. The unxnmaned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical current conveying tension member conductor is one phase conductor of a multiple phase high voltage electrical energy transmission line.

8. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus has an electrical current output of at least plural milliamperes while fully encircling an electrical current conveying tension member conductor conveying tens of amperes of alternating current.

9. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said temporary parking of said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus is a surreptitious clandestine parking.

10. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic sensor apparatus includes a video camera.

11. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic sensor apparatus includes a plurality of video cameras, one of said cameras including a viewing range extending to said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus saliently located on an upper portion of said aerial vehicle and providing a view of said apparatus engaging with a transmission line phase conductor.

12. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiant energy communication apparatus includes a radio frequency energy generating transmitter circuit.

13. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical current conveying tension member conductor is operating at an electrical potential of between one thousand and one million volts with respect to adjacent elements.

14. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus magnetic circuit aperture portion includes a central axis disposed in one of a lateral alignment and an axial alignment with respect to said aerial vehicle.

15. The unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus magnetic circuit aperture portion includes a central axis disposed in a selectable alignment between lateral and axial alignments with respect to said aerial vehicle.

16. A method of performing military aerial surveillance comprising the steps of:

providing the unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus of claim 1;

moving said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus from a friendly staging area into a potentially hostile area proximate a region of aerial surveillance interest using said electrical motor driven propulsion apparatus;

parking said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus vehicle on an energized electrical energy transmission line conductor located adjacent said region of aerial surveillance interest, said parking step including suspending said aerial surveillance apparatus vehicle in a hanging substantially motionless condition on said transmission line conductor using said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus;

charging batteries of said rechargeable electrical battery apparatus as needed by way of magnetic coupling of said transmission line current flow into said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus during said parking step;

commanding said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus into movement after acquisition of a battery charge for surveillance mission continuation; and

selecting between returning said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus to said friendly staging area, returning to said parking transmission line conductor, entering into another surveillance mission, locating another energized transmission line conductor for parking and other action upon completing said movement.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said parking step includes performing additional surveillance activity during said interval of parking, hanging substantially motionless, condition.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said parking step further includes closing a magnetic circuit completing portion of said electrical energy generating magnetic circuit apparatus around said transmission line conductor in assurance of continuing physical captivity of said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus and in enhancing magnetic field coupling of said magnetic circuit with said transmission line conductor.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said parking step includes alignment of said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus in one of an axial, an orthogonal and an intermediate between axial and orthogonal alignment positions with respect to said energized electrical energy transmission line conductor.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said parking step includes engaging said transmission line conductor with an aerial surveillance apparatus disposed magnetic circuit having selectable magnetically open and magnetically closed operating configurations.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said unmanned aerial surveillance apparatus further includes a weapon device.