Electric aircraft side access batteries and single file passenger seating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11542020-B2
Application number	US-202117161986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2021
Priority date	Jan 29, 2021
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

An aircraft includes fuselage, a seat, and battery compartment. Fuselage extends along a longitudinal axis. Seat is configured to support a passenger. The battery compartment that includes a battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft. The battery compartment, including the battery, is located laterally adjacent to the seat along the longitudinal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft comprising:
(a) a fuselage extending along a longitudinal axis;
(b) first and second seats positioned within the fuselage and arranged in single file, wherein the first and second seats are configured to support first and second passengers, wherein the first seat is the only seat in a first passenger row, wherein the second seat is the only seat in a second passenger row; and
(c) a battery compartment that includes first and second batteries configured to provide power to propel the aircraft, wherein the first and second batteries are located within the fuselage and positioned laterally adjacent to the first and second seats along the longitudinal axis.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the first and second seats extend in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the first and second seats are staggered along the longitudinal axis such that the first and second seats do not extend in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the fuselage has an exterior, wherein the battery compartment includes an access panel movable between open and closed configurations to access the battery of the battery compartment from the exterior of the fuselage.

5. The aircraft of claim 4 , the battery compartment further comprising:
(i) a third battery located within the fuselage, and
(ii) a second access panel movable between open and closed configurations to access the third battery of the battery compartment.

6. The aircraft of claim 5 , the battery compartment further comprising:
(i) a fourth battery located within the fuselage, and
(ii) a third access panel movable between open and closed configurations to access the fourth battery of the battery compartment from the exterior of the fuselage.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 , the aircraft further comprising a second battery compartment that includes a battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft.

8. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the fuselage includes first and second lateral sides, wherein the battery compartment is disposed in the first lateral side of the fuselage, wherein the second battery compartment is disposed in the second lateral side of the fuselage.

9. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft includes at least one passenger window, wherein the battery compartment is sized and configured to not impede a sight line of the passenger through the window.

10. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the fuselage has an interior surface that defines an interior, wherein the battery compartment is mechanically and thermally isolated from the interior of the fuselage.

11. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft includes at least one door configured to allow the passenger to enter and exit the fuselage.

12. The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the at least one door comprises first and second doors are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the fuselage.

13. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is a fixed wing aircraft or a rotorcraft configured for vertical takeoff and landing.

14. An aircraft comprising:
(a) a fuselage extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the fuselage has an interior and an exterior;
(b) a plurality of seats disposed in the interior of the fuselage, the plurality of seats comprising:
(i) a first seat configured to support a first passenger, and
(ii) a second seat configured to support a second passenger, wherein the first and second seats are arranged in single file and positioned at the same vertical height but do not extend in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

(c) a battery compartment comprising:
(i) a battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft, wherein the battery compartment, including the battery, is located laterally adjacent to at least one of the first and second seats along the longitudinal axis, and
(ii) an access panel movable between open and closed configurations to access the battery in the battery compartment from the exterior of the fuselage.

15. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of seats further comprises a third seat configured to support a third passenger, wherein the first, second, and third seats are arranged in single file, the aircraft further comprising a second battery compartment that includes a second battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft, wherein the second battery compartment, including the second battery, is located laterally adjacent to the third seat along the longitudinal axis.

16. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the aircraft is a fixed wing aircraft or a rotorcraft configured for vertical takeoff and landing.

17. A method of manufacturing an aircraft, the method comprising:
(a) positioning first and second batteries within a fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the fuselage extends along a longitudinal axis and includes first and second lateral sides, wherein the first and second batteries are configured to provide power to propel the aircraft; and
(b) coupling first and second seats in single file within the fuselage, wherein the first and second batteries are located within the fuselage laterally adjacent to the first and second seats along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second seats are configured to support first and second passengers, wherein the first seat is the only seat in a first passenger row, wherein the second seat is the only seat in a second passenger row.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising connecting an access panel with the fuselage, wherein the access panel is movable between open and closed configurations to access the first and second batteries from an exterior of the fuselage.

19. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the first seat is the only seat in a first passenger row, wherein the second seat is the only seat in a second passenger row.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising connecting a second access panel with the fuselage, wherein the second access panel is movable between open and closed configurations to access a third battery from an exterior of the fuselage, wherein the access panel and the second access panel are both disposed in the first lateral side of the fuselage.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Ivans Steven R
• Groninga Kirk L

Classifications

• B64C1/1423

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• B64C1/16 Primary

  specially adapted for mounting power plant · CPC title

• B60L2200/10

  Air crafts · CPC title

• B64C1/1446

  Inspection hatches (for engine cowls B64D29/08) · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title