EcoCharge powered planes and drones

• US 9,539,906 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis Drake Mccrady
• Original Assignee: Dennis Drake Mccrady
• Inventors: McCrady, Dennis Drake
• Primary Examiner(s): KENERLY, TERRANCE L
• Application Number:
  US15/151,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20160280075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 310/68.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• 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 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 47/00 Dynamo-electric converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 99/10 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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

Abstract

The earth'"'"'s magnetic field has not been mined as a source of energy. With average field strength of 0.5×10⁻⁴ Tesla around the world it is easy to understand why. A disruptive technology is needed to mine the earth'"'"'s magnetic field. Such a technology, graphene, is now at an early stage of development with excellent properties in the form of high conductivity, low resistivity, durable, light weight, low cost sheets. Multiple sheets of graphene provide a significant multiplier to earth'"'"'s magnetic field yielding a feasible source of ecologically clean power. Graphene based EcoCharge units can be driven by electric motors putting graphene in motion to mine the earth'"'"'s magnetic field. Estimates show that for a Solar Impulse 2 like electric plane, eight EcoCharge units weighing 64 lbs generate 60 kW RMS continuously replacing 3,000 lbs of photovoltaic cells generating 50 kW RMS during the day only.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

arranging a first graphene sheet 1 on a rotatable shaft 11;

arranging a second graphene sheet 3 on a rotatable, orthogonal shaft 13;

rotating the shaft within the magnetic field of the earth;

rotating the orthogonal shaft within the magnetic field of the earth;

inducing an electric current in the graphene sheets in response to the rotation of the shaft and the orthogonal shaft through the magnetic field of the earth; and

supplying the electric current to an electrical system in an electric plane or drone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying the electric current to the electrical system of an electric plane or drone comprises using a commutator to electrically connect the first and second graphene sheet to the electrical system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein electrically connecting the first and second graphene sheet to the electrical system of the electric plane or drone comprises electrically connecting the first and second graphene sheet to the electrical system through graphene brushes of the commutator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

arranging the first and second graphene sheet on the rotatable shaft comprises arranging graphene sheets on a plurality of rotatable shafts and orthogonal rotatable shafts inside the electric plane or drone;

rotating the shaft within the magnetic field of the earth comprises rotating the plurality of shafts and orthogonal shafts within the magnetic field of the earth;

inducing an electric current in the first and second graphene sheet in response to the rotation of the shaft through the magnetic field of the earth comprises inducing electric currents in the first and second graphene sheets in response to the rotation of the plurality of shafts and orthogonal shafts; and

supplying the electric current to the electrical system comprises supplying the electric current from the first and second graphene sheets to the electrical system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the first graphene sheet on the rotatable shaft comprises arranging a plurality of graphene sheets on the rotatable shaft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the graphene sheet on the rotatable shaft comprises arranging a plurality of first and second graphene sheets on the rotatable, orthogonal shaft.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the first and second graphene sheet on the rotatable shaft comprises insulating the first and second graphene sheet from the rotatable shaft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the first and second graphene sheet on the rotatable shaft comprises insulating the first and second graphene sheet from the rotatable, orthogonal shaft.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying the electric current to the electrical system of the electric plane or drone comprises supplying the electric current to a battery to charge the battery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying the electric current to the electrical system of the electric plane or drone comprises supplying the electric current to an electric motor to power the electric motor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying the electric current to the electrical system comprises supplying the electric current to an electrical system of the electric plane or drone to power the electrical system.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a graphene sheet;

a rotatable shaft;

a rotatable, orthogonal shaft;

a mechanism to rotate the shaft and the orthogonal shaft driven by an electric motor; and

an electrical system,

wherein the graphene sheet is secured to the rotatable shaft and rotates with the rotatable shaft through the magnetic field of the earth;

wherein the graphene sheet is secured to the rotatable, orthogonal shaft and rotates with the rotatable, orthogonal shaft through the magnetic field of the earth;

wherein the mechanism to rotate the shaft and orthogonal shaft comprises a coupler, a motion translation lower, a vertical shaft, a motion translation upper;

wherein the mechanism is driven by the electric motor of the plane or drone which also drives a propeller of the plane or drone;

wherein rotation of the rotatable shaft and the orthogonal, rotatable shaft through the electric field of the earth induces an electric current in the graphene sheets;

wherein the graphene sheets are electrically connected to the electrical system of the plane or drone, and the electric current induced in the graphene sheets is supplied to the electrical system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a commutator, wherein the commutator electrically connects the graphene sheets to the electrical system of the plane or drone.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the commutator comprises graphene brushes, wherein the graphene brushes electrically connect the graphene sheets to the commutator.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the graphene sheet comprises a graphene connection tab, and wherein the graphene connection tab electrically connects the graphene sheet to the commutator.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of apparatus to match the number of electric motors on the plane or drone.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an insulator ridge, wherein the insulator ridge is arranged between the graphene sheet and the rotatable shaft and electrically insulates the graphene sheet from the rotatable shaft.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphene sheet is one of a plurality of graphene sheets, wherein each of the plurality of graphene sheets is secured to the rotatable shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of graphene sheets is electrically connected to the electrical system of the electric plane or drone.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rotatable shaft comprises a drive shaft inside the electric plane or drone.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rotatable shaft comprises an orthogonal drive shaft inside the electric plane or drone.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical system comprises a battery.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical system comprises the electric motor or plurality of electric motors on the plane or drone.