Microwave powered aircraft
Patent 4955562 Issued on September 11, 1990. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 16, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 16, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3358946 3434678 3656164 Airborne early warning system with retractable radome Aerodynamic radar pod with external inflatable portion Airplane configured with a moveable disk structure Patent #: 4662588 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 272015 filed on 11/16/1988US Classes:244/62, AIRCRAFT PROPULSION244/1R, MISCELLANEOUS343/705, With aircraft343/708, Aircraft part of active antenna or vice versaD12/319AIRCRAFT, SPACECRAFT, OR FUSELAGEExaminersPrimary: Peters, Joseph F. Jr.Assistant: Sartelle, Anne Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassB64C 039/02Foreign Application Priority Data1987-11-24 CAAbstractA microwave-powered aircraft has lifting surfaces for exerting lifting forces on the aircraft in response to the propulsion of the aircraft and a rectenna array for receiving and rectifying microwave energy transmitted to the aircraft from a location remote from the aircraft. An electric motor for driving a propeller is energized by microwave energy received by the rectenna array, which is provided in a body at the underside of the aircraft. The body has its major dimensions extending horizontally and is relatively shallow with a periphery which is vertically curved so as to reduce turbulence in the airstream over the body during flight. The body is separate from the lifting surfaces and shaped to at least substantially avoid the generation of lifting forces by the body. | |
