Long range electric aircraft and method of operating same

• US 9,650,138 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ampaire, Inc., Flight of the Century, Inc.
• Original Assignee: W.Morrison Consulting Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Yates, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US14/882,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20160031564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/00 Arrangements in aircraft of power plant parts or auxiliaries not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14
• 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 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, and method of deploying and retrieving secondary aircrafts.

Claims

1. A system for regenerating electricity in at least one flying aircraft comprising:

a deployable cable connected to a first aircraft, the cable comprising an upstream end and a downstream end;

the upstream end of the cable comprising a mechanical connection to a reeling device onboard the first aircraft;

the downstream end of the cable comprising a flight control surface and a first mechanism for connecting to a second aircraft, the second aircraft having at least one Ram Air Turbine (“

RAT”

) and an energy storage medium;

a reciprocal mechanism connected to the second aircraft for receiving the connection mechanism of the cable;

wherein the cable is designed to allow the first aircraft to tow the second aircraft when it is connected to the second aircraft and wherein the RAT is designed to regenerate energy for the energy storage medium when the second aircraft is being towed.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a device to regulate electrical current during any transfer of electricity between first and second aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism is activated by contact.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism is activated by proximity.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism comprises a spring operated latch.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism comprises a gas operated latch.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism comprises a hydraulically operated latch.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism comprises an electrical actuator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism comprises an electromagnetic element.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein a portion of the cable with provisions for providing electrical connectivity between the first and second aircraft is less than the total length of the cable.

11. A system for regenerating electricity in at least one flying aircraft comprising:

a deployable cable connected to a first aircraft, the cable comprising an upstream end and a downstream end;

the upstream end of the cable comprising a mechanical connection to a reeling device onboard the first aircraft;

the downstream end of the cable comprising a thruster and a first mechanism for connecting to a second aircraft, the second aircraft having at least one Ram Air Turbine (“

RAT”

) and an energy storage medium;

a reciprocal mechanism connected to the second aircraft for receiving the connection mechanism of the cable;

wherein the cable is designed to allow the first aircraft to tow the second aircraft when it is connected to the second aircraft and wherein the RAT is designed to regenerate energy for the energy storage medium when the second aircraft is being towed.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the thruster is powered by at least one compressed gas.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the thruster is designed to be actuated in response to input from at least one sensor.

14. A method for regenerating electricity in at least one flying aircraft comprising:

deploying a cable from a first aircraft using a reeling device, the cable having an upstream end connected to the reeling device and a downstream end;

connecting the downstream end of the cable to a second aircraft during flight, wherein the second aircraft comprises at least one propeller and an energy storage medium and wherein the first aircraft provides a thrust to tow the second aircraft after the connection is made; and

regenerating electricity for the energy storage medium on the second aircraft using a windmilling action of the at least one propeller.