FR2821059A1 - Aircraft is helium filled flying wing has large capacity with solar drive - Google Patents

Abstract

An aircraft has an aerodynamic wing form filled with helium (2) with solar cells (1) on an internal skin covered by a transparent outer skin (3) to generate electricity for an electric drive and to drive air conditioning within a tent surrounding the landing gear (5) when on the ground.

Description

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 The present invention relates to an aircraft having a significant carrying capacity mu by solar energy alone.

 There are already solar drones developed by NASA that can reach, because of the scarcity of photovoltaic energy, only speeds-and therefore very low lift-rates, resulting in a very low carrying capacity. to over-optimize the lift by a large elongation leads to the design of very large aircraft with narrow wings. In total, these devices offer the sun a surface of photovoltaic sensors rather restricted for a maximum size.

 The innovative concept of the invention overcomes these disadvantages. It is in fact to build a hybrid flying wing of the solar drone and the airship. Voluminous and as aerodynamic as possible, it has a lower surface composed of photovoltaic cells (1), an interior filled with helium (2) and a transparent extrados to allow the passage of photons (3). Thus, it produces the energy necessary to rotate the engines used primarily to carry the useful mass (the overall weight of the vacuum wing being slightly positive). The optimization of the structure comes from the multifunctionality of the wing which combines lightness and aerodynamics, while producing itself, the energy necessary for its advancement. On the ground, batteries are used to power other electrical devices.

 According to particular embodiments and sizing retained: -the propellers will be more or less numerous.

-the propellers will be positioned at the front or rear of the wing.

 - The yaw control will be traditional or replaced by a power differential between right and left engines.

 - the passenger compartment will be positioned above or below the photovoltaic sensors.

 - the cargo hold will be positioned above or below the photovoltaic sensors.

 - the technical part will be positioned above or below the photovoltaic sensors.

 - The extrados is rigid, semi-rigid or flexible and taut.

 - the storage capacity of the energy allows or not the eternal flight.

on the ground, batteries can power all kinds of electrical devices. (air conditioners included) - on the ground, the flying wing is easily transformed into a comfortable tent thanks to the deployment of a peripheral fabric (9) which transforms the underside of the aircraft into an insulated or even air-conditioned cabin (see figure 2 )

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The prototype two-seater proposed in Figure 1 uses-to sustenter-an aerodynamic force from the rotation of 2 propellers (8) driven by electric motors. This force-proportional to the square of its speed-can remain relatively small, the overall weight of the wing being minimized by the carriage of several cubic meters of helium stored in the envelope in which, thanks to a carefully designed partitioning, the cabin (4) and the retracting landing gear (5) are housed and, on the other hand, the underside is a large photovoltaic sensor. The thickness of the wing can reach a maximum of several meters in the center. The two propellers are positioned at the rear of the wing symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal vertical plane, the power differentials transmitted to their respective engines thus replacing the yaw control. The global energy produced by the photovoltaic sensors is stored in batteries and then redistributed to the propellers according to the actions at the driver's sleeve via a computer on board. This control, made very precise by the fine management of electricity, saves weight by eliminating conventional control surfaces. At the rear of the wing, the center elevator (6) and the wingtip control surfaces (7) remain classic. The empty weight of the flying wing is slightly positive to simplify ground handling and descents.

 The technical characteristics of this two-seater prototype are given in the table on page 3.

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masse (kg) 2 piloten 160 2moteurs 100 habitacle 50 train 5 (y train 60 cellules 673. 53 masse totale1023, 53

épaisseur moy (m) 3, 5 longueur (m) 13 envergure (m) 22 surface (m2) 224, 51 Vhe ! jim (m3) 735785 masse globele (kg) 237, 745 < masse d'un ULM masse globale à v) tde (kg} 87, 745 > 0 '''''''"'"t'""------puissance dispo (kw) 43, 41353591 comparable à un ULM Pmoteur (kw) 25

mass (kg) 2 piloten 160 2motors 100 passenger 50 train 5 (y train 60 cells 673. 53 total weight1023, 53

average thickness (m) 3, 5 length (m) 13 span (m) 22 area (m2) 224, 51 Vhe! jim (m3) 735785 total mass (kg) 237, 745 <mass of an ultralight mass (kg) 87, 745> 0 '''''''''"""--- --- power available (kw) 43, 41353591 comparable to an ultralight Pmotor (kw) 25

Claims (1)

 l) Aircraft characterized by its energy autonomy enabled by a lower surface consisting of solar collectors with storage of electricity in batteries, a transparent upper surface and the carrying of a volume of helium to achieve speeds relatively high.  2) Aircraft according to claim 1 characterized in that its outer shape is the most aerodynamic possible.  3)) Aircraft according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that it allows once ground-offer the crew a shelter whose height is that of the landing gear.  4) Aircraft according to claim 1 characterized in that-once asked to solles said batteries can power any electrical appliances such as air conditioners 5) Aircraft according to claims 1,3 and 4 characterized in that-once laid on the ground-the deployment of a tent membrane device transforms the underside of the aircraft into an isolated and air-conditioned cabin.  6) Aircraft according to claim 1 characterized by an energy storage capacity during the daytime flight sufficient to allow the maintenance in flight during a full night, thus making possible the eternal flight.