Infrared radiation powered lightweight aircraft
OwnerDavid E. Longinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high altitude reconnaissance platform is implemented by an ultralight aircraft powered solely by long wave infrared cells mounted on the lower surfaces of the wings and the fuselage. The aircraft may be of the pusher, slow speed propeller style, with a larger rear wing and a small, canard-type front wing. The bottom of the fuselage may be flat. The two wings may be vertically offset from one-another, and the cross-section of the wings may be relatively thick, with the ratio of the width of the wings to their thickness being in the order of about 6 to 8.
Claims20
A high altitude, ultralight aircraft requiring no fuel comprising:
- an aircraft having wings with broad area lower wing surfaces and a fuselage;
- a low speed propeller mounted on said aircraft;
- electric motor means mounted on said aircraft and coupled to drive said propeller;
- long wavelength infrared (LWIR) responsive cell means for receiving infrared energy radiated from the earth and for supplying electricity to power said motor means, said LWIR cell means being mounted on the lower surfaces of said wings and said fuselage;
- and
- said LWIR being substantially the only source of input power for said aircraft to provide a continuous source of power both during the day and at night;
- whereby the aircraft may have a life at elevated altitudes of several years.
A high altitude, ultralight aircraft requiring no fuel comprising:
- an aircraft having wings with broad area lower wing surfaces and a fuselage;
- a low speed propeller mounted on said aircraft;
- electric motor means mounted on said aircraft and coupled to drive said propeller;
- long wavelength infrared (LWIR) responsive cell means for receiving infrared energy from the earth and for supplying electricity to power said motor means, said LWIR cell means being mounted on the lower surfaces of said wings and said fuselage;
- said LWIR being substantially the only source of input power for said aircraft to provide a continuous source of power both during the day and at night;
- and
- said aircraft having a relatively large rear wing and a smaller canard-type front wing, with said two wings being vertically displaced from one-another;
- whereby the aircraft may have a life at elevated altitudes of several years.
A high altitude, ultralight aircraft requiring no fuel comprising:
- an aircraft having wings with broad area lower wing surfaces and a fuselage;
- a low speed propeller mounted on said aircraft;
- electric motor means mounted on said aircraft and coupled to drive said propeller;
- long wavelength infrared (LWIR) responsive cell means for receiving infrared energy from the earth and for supplying electricity to power said motor means, said LWIR cell means being mounted on the lower surfaces of said wings and said fuselage;
- said LWIR being substantially the only source of input power for said aircraft to provide a continuous source of power both during the day and at night;
- and
- the ratio of the width to the thickness of said wings being less than 12;
- whereby the aircraft may have a life at elevated altitudes of several years.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.