Title:
ROTORCRAFT POWER-GENERATION, CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/087541
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
Inventors:
CALVERLEY GRANT (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2010/053469
Publication Date:
October 27, 2011
Filing Date:
October 21, 2010
Export Citation:
Assignee:
CALVERLEY GRANT (US)
International Classes:
F03D9/00; B64C31/02
Foreign References:
| US7275719B2 | 2007-10-02 | |||
| US5996934A | 1999-12-07 | |||
| US20050046197A1 | 2005-03-03 | |||
| JP2007532408A | 2007-11-15 |
Other References:
See also references of EP 2491244A4
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PLOTKIN, Robert (P.C.15 New England Executive Par, Burlington Massachusetts, US)
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