Tethered wind turbine using a stopped rotor aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144510-B1
Application number	US-201615197320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2016
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A system which includes a stoppable rotor which is configured to launch a stopped rotor aircraft into flight. The system also includes one or more wind turbines which are configured to generate electricity while the stopped rotor aircraft is flying, where the stoppable rotor is stopped at least some of the time while electricity is generated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a stoppable rotor which is configured to launch a stopped rotor aircraft into flight; and
one or more wind turbines which are configured to generate electricity while the stopped rotor aircraft is flying, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped at least some of the time while electricity is generated.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , further comprising a ground station and a tether which connects the stopped rotor aircraft to the ground station.

3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade; and
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward.

4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the first blade is shorter than the second blade.

5. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the second blade includes a tailfin.

6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the first blade is narrower than the second blade.

7. A method, comprising:
launching a stopped rotor aircraft into flight using a stoppable rotor; and
generating electricity using one or more wind turbines while the stopped rotor aircraft is flying, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped at least some of the time while electricity is generated.

8. The method recited in claim 7 , wherein there is a tether which connects the stopped rotor aircraft to a ground station.

9. The method recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade; and
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward.

10. The method recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the first blade is shorter than the second blade.

11. The method recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the second blade includes a tailfin.

12. The method recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the first blade is narrower than the second blade.

13. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
launching a stopped rotor aircraft into flight using a stoppable rotor; and
generating electricity using one or more wind turbines while the stopped rotor aircraft is flying, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped at least some of the time while electricity is generated.

14. The computer program product recited in claim 13 , wherein there is a tether which connects the stopped rotor aircraft to a ground station.

15. The computer program product recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade; and
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward.

16. The computer program product recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the first blade is shorter than the second blade.

17. The computer program product recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the second blade includes a tailfin.

18. The computer program product recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade;
when the stoppable rotor is stopped, the first blade is facing forward and the second blade is facing backward; and
the first blade is narrower than the second blade.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Vander Lind Damon

Classifications

• B64D27/24

  using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16) · CPC title

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• F03D9/32

  on moving objects, e.g. vehicles · CPC title

• B64C39/022 Primary

  Tethered aircraft · CPC title

• B64C29/0025

  the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage · CPC title