Infrared radiation powered lightweight aircraft
US4907764A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 1988 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/60
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.