IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,440,736
Granted Patent B2
US 9,440,736 · App. 13/480,431 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Special personal electric helicopter device with integral wind turbine recharging capability

Inventor: Pete Bitar (Anderson, IN)
B64C27/10B64C27/12B64C39/026B64D27/24B64C2201/027B64C2201/042B64C2201/108Y02T50/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,440,736
App. No.
13/480,431
Filed
May 24, 2012
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3644
USPC
244/17.11
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.

Claims (15)

1. 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.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the electric battery powered system for uplift and propulsion is an electronic conversion system with a set of Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs) and/or a set of Field Effect Transistors (FETs).

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a second propeller driven by the electric battery powered system.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the one propeller and the second propeller are reversible and rotate in an opposite direction wherein the one propeller and the second propeller in turn drive the motor generator and generate electricity to charge the battery.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the electric battery powered system for uplift and propulsion is a remote control system.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the direction of propulsion is a single rudder.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61490343 · May 26, 2011
Related Publication 20120298790A1 · Nov 29, 2012