Aircraft capable of hovering having an exhaust duct with thermoelectric conversion circuit

#This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of European Patent Application No. 11425066.5, filed Mar. 18, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

#The present invention relates to an aircraft capable of hovering, in particular a helicopter, to which the following description refers purely by way of example, or a convertiplane.

#As is known, minimizing fuel consumption and, therefore, CO2 emissions, is a major issue in the helicopter industry.

#A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a helicopter in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 shows a larger-scale view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of an exhaust duct of the FIG. 1 helicopter, fitted with thermoelectric modules for generating electric energy;

#Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a helicopter substantially comprising a fuselage 2 housing the crew and on-board equipment; a main rotor 3 mounted on the top 4 of a central portion of fuselage 2, and which rotates about an axis A to sustain helicopter 1; and a tail rotor 5, which is fitted to a tail fin 6 projecting from a rear end portion of fuselage 2, and rotates about an axis B crosswise to axis A.

#Helicopter 1 also comprises, in the top centre portion of fuselage 2, known drive means 7 (only shown schematically) for driving main rotor 3 and tail rotor 5 via respective known transmissions not shown.

#Helicopter 1 comprises two exhaust ducts 8 (only one shown in FIG. 1) connected to respective outlets of drive means 7 to expel the exhaust gas, produced by fuel combustion, from helicopter 1.