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US 12,583,595 B2Granted
Wing-mounted multi-stage ionic thruster
OwnerJason T. Bowlesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-stage ionic thruster includes a voltage supply, a frame of a wing, the frame defining a first axis between a leading edge of the wing and a trailing edge of the wing and a second axis between a root of the wing and a tip of the wing, and a plurality of ionic thrusters coupled to the frame and spaced apart from each other along the first axis.
Claims20
A multi-stage ionic thruster, comprising:
- a voltage supply;
- a frame of a wing, the frame defining a first axis between a leading edge of the wing and a trailing edge of the wing and a second axis between a root of the wing and a tip of the wing, the frame including a plurality of extensions that extend above a top side of the frame,
- wherein a first extension, of the plurality of extensions, includes a first slot extending in a direction of the first axis;
- and
- a plurality of ionic thrusters coupled to the frame and spaced apart from each other along the first axis,
- wherein a first ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, is coupled to the first extension by a first rod that extends through the first slot and is coupled to the first ionic thruster.
3 more elements
A multi-stage ionic thruster, comprising:
- a voltage supply;
- a frame of a wing, the frame defining a first axis between a leading edge of the wing and a trailing edge of the wing and a second axis between a root of the wing and a tip of the wing;
- and
- a plurality of ionic thrusters coupled to the frame and spaced apart from each other along the first axis,
- wherein each ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, is configured to cause electrohydrodynamic thrust in a direction primarily along the first axis,
- wherein a total electrohydrodynamic thrust of the plurality of ionic thrusters is greater than an electrohydrodynamic thrust value of a first ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters,
- wherein a positive electrode of each ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, is electrically connected to the voltage supply, the positive electrode of each ionic thruster being spaced from the frame in a vertical direction to define a first air gap,
- wherein first and second negative electrodes of each ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, are electrically connected to ground, the first and second negative electrodes of each ionic thruster being stacked in the vertical direction to define a second air gap therebetween, and
- wherein the positive electrode of each ionic thruster is aligned, in the vertical direction, with the second air gap such that a majority of air flow caused by each ionic thruster is configured to flow through the second air gap.
6 more elements
A low-speed aircraft for horizontal flight, comprising:
- a compartmentalized, non-mechanical propulsion system including:
- a voltage supply;
- a frame of a wing, the frame defining a first axis between a leading edge of the wing and a trailing edge of the wing and a second axis between a root of the wing and a tip of the wing;
- and
- a plurality of ionic thrusters coupled to the frame and spaced apart from each other along the first axis,
- wherein each ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, is configured to cause electrohydrodynamic thrust in a direction primarily along the first axis,
- wherein a positive electrode of each ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, is electrically connected to the voltage supply independently from respective positive electrodes of each other ionic thruster, and
- wherein a negative electrode of each ionic thruster, of the plurality of ionic thrusters, is electrically connected to ground.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.