External power assist systems for charging batteries onboard eVTOL aircraft
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorChristopher M. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An external power assist system for an eVTOL aircraft having one or more onboard batteries includes a subsurface power source and a power transfer interface electrically coupled to the subsurface power source. The power transfer interface is movable between various positions including a deployed position and a stowed position. The power transfer interface is configured to transfer power to the onboard batteries of the eVTOL aircraft in the deployed position. The power transfer interface is moved at least partially subsurface in the stowed position.
Claims16
An external power assist system for charging batteries onboard an eVTOL aircraft positioned on a surface, the external power assist system comprising:
- a subsurface power source;
- a subsurface stow cavity;
- and
- a power transfer interface electrically coupled to the subsurface power source, the power transfer interface telescopically slidable in a substantially vertical direction between a plurality of positions including a deployed position in which the power transfer interface extends above the surface and a stowed position in which the power transfer interface is retracted below the surface into the subsurface stow cavity;
- wherein, the power transfer interface is configured to charge batteries of the eVTOL aircraft in the deployed position.
An aircraft system comprising:
- an eVTOL aircraft positioned on a surface, the eVTOL aircraft including one or more onboard batteries;
- and
- an external power assist system configured to selectively charge the onboard batteries of the eVTOL aircraft, the external power assist system comprising:
- a subsurface power source;
- a subsurface stow cavity;
- and
- a power transfer interface electrically coupled to the subsurface power source, the power transfer interface telescopically slidable in a substantially vertical direction between a plurality of positions including a deployed position in which the power transfer interface extends above the surface and a stowed position in which the power transfer interface is retracted below the surface into the subsurface stow cavity;
- wherein, the power transfer interface is configured to charge the onboard batteries of the eVTOL aircraft in the deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.