US 9,440,736 B2Granted

Special personal electric helicopter device with integral wind turbine recharging capability

OwnerPete Bitarinventor

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Abstract

Disclosed is a Personal Electric Helicopter device with an integral wind turbine recharging capability. The device is a relatively small, lighter weight powered aircraft capable of vertical take-offs and propulsion across various terrain at low altitudes. The device is uniquely capable of re-charging its power source by connection to an electrical grid or by using its uplift components as a wind turbine for re-charging. The preferred embodiment is comprised of a rechargeable uplift and propulsion power system with components and features; a frame structure to carry an operator and/or payload; a means to connect the structure to the power system; and a means to control the uplift and propulsion system wherein the vehicle may be used to elevate and propel a payload at low altitudes across various terrains and may be positioned to reverse power the wind turbine to recharge the batteries.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A Personal Electric Helicopter (PEH) vehicle device comprised of:

(a) an electric battery powered system including at least one rechargeable electric battery, the powered system further comprising at least one motor-generator wherein the at least one motor-generator provides rotational power to a propeller for uplift and propulsion and the powered system made of lightweight and durable materials;
(b) a frame structure made of a lightweight, durable and hollowed tube material, the structure configured to carry an operator and payload and the frame structure including at least three inclined tubes converging toward the powered system at a one converging end and including an operator seat secured to at least one of the three inclined tubes at the opposite end of the one converging end;
(c) a means for securely connecting the frame structure at the one converging end to the electric battery powered system;
(d) the means for securely connecting the frame structure to at the one converging end to the electric battery powered system further comprising a hinge mechanism wherein, when the device is at rest and not flying, the hinge mechanism of the frame permits the electric battery powered system and the propeller to be rotated to an essentially vertical position to accept a wind force for the propeller to reverse the direction of rotational turning and to propel the motor-generator in order to recharge the at least one battery;
(e) a means for controlling the electric battery powered system for uplift and propulsion;
(f) a means for controlling the direction of propulsion of the Personal Electric Helicopter (PEH) vehicle device;
(g) the at least one propeller;
and
(h) a mechanical drive connection from the rechargeable electric battery powered system and the at least one propeller
wherein the (PEH) vehicle can be used to elevate and propel the operator/payload at low altitudes across various terrains.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/480,431Filed 24 May 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 May 2011
Published: US 2012/0298790 A129 Nov 2012
Granted: 13 Sep 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

B64C 27/12
Helicopters: rotor drives
B64C 39/026
Characterised by special use: for use as personal propulsion unit
B64D 27/34
Aircraft characterised by electric power plants: all-electric aircraft
B64D 27/357
Arrangements for on-board electric energy production, distribution, recovery or storage: using batteries