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Title:
VERTCAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING VEHICLE FOR LAND, WATER AND AIR TRANSPORT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2003/022630
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
A vehicle (10) for land and air transport and, more specifically, to a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport that is submersible and utilizes compressed air to lift and propel the vehicle during travel. The land-based drive train and the aviatic air compression system are powered machanically by the vehicle's engine (20) or electrically by rechargeable battery banks (44) and generators (64) or a combination thereof thereby effectively reducing the present invention's reliance upon fossil fuel sources.

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Inventors:
SMITH LEO (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2002/027806
Publication Date:
March 20, 2003
Filing Date:
September 03, 2002
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SMITH LEO (US)
International Classes:
B60F3/00; B60F5/00; B64C29/00; B64C37/00; (IPC1-7): B60R/
Foreign References:
US2444332A1948-06-29
US1427257A1922-08-29
US2707084A1955-04-26
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Kroll, Michael I. (Syosset, NY, US)
Download PDF:
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Claims:
CLAIMS What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport, comprising: a) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on land; b) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on the surface of water; c) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle when submerged underwater; and d) means for lifting, propelling and controlling the vehicle through the air, wherein the means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on the surface of water comprises: i) a retractable wheel system; ii) an engine; iii) a compressed air propulsion system; iv) a selectively engagable means for communication between said engine and either said retractable wheel system or said compressed air propulsion system; v) navigational aids; and vi) means for controlling the operation of said compressed air propulsion system.
2. The vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, in which the means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on land comprises: a) wheels; b) an engine; c) means for communicating between said wheels and said engine; and d) means for controlling the operation of said wheels and engine.
3. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport, comprising: a) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on land; b) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on the surface of water; c) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle when submerged underwater; and d) means for lifting, propelling and controlling the vehicle through the air, in which the means for propelling and controlling the vehicle when submerged underwater comprises: i) retractable wheel system; ii) a compressed air propulsion system; iii) a pressurized cabin; iv) an engine; v) means for communication between said compressed air propulsion system and said engine; and vi) means for controlling the operation of said compressed air propulsion system.
4. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport, comprising: a) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on land; b) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle on the surface of water; c) means for propelling and controlling the vehicle when submerged underwater; and d) means for lifting, propelling and controlling the vehicle through the air, in which the means for propelling and controlling the vehicle through the air comprises: i) a retractable wheel system; ii) retractable ailerons; iii) a compressed air propulsion system; iv) a pressurized cabin; v) an engine; vi) means for communication between said compressed air propulsion system and said engine; and vii) means for controlling the operation of said compressed air propulsion system.
5. The vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, in which the compressed air propulsion system comprises: a) an air intake means; b) an air compression pump; c) an air compression tank; and d) jet nozzles.
6. The vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, in which the compressed air propulsion system comprises: a) an air intake means; b) an air compression pump; c) an air compression tank; d) jet nozzles.
7. The vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, in which the retractable wheel system comprises: a) retractable wheels; b) retractable wheel well covers; and c) hydraulic pump jacks.
8. The vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, in which a preferred number of hydraulic pump jacks is four and all hydraulic pump jacks are simultaneously extendable for retraction and extraction of said retractable wheels.
9. The vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pressurized cabin comprising: a) a hermetically sealed cabin area; b) a compression unit; c) an oxygen unit; and d) an oxygen release valve.
10. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 3, further including a stabilizing and navigational system comprising: a) an altimeter; b) a gyroscope; c) a microprocessor; d) motion detectors; and e) navigation lights.
11. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 10, wherein the navigation lights include a high intensity lighting means.
12. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 5, further including at least one sealed compartment about the undercarriage of said vehicle filled with helium or another bouyant substance having an input nozzle integral with each sealed compartment allowing for the additional input of said gravitational substance therein and further having a helium pressure gauge inside the cabin to monitor the pressure within said compartment.
13. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 2, further including a motor; a generator powered by said motor wherein said generator provides an immediate recharge to the motor and to at least one rechargeable battery with the amount of recharge determined by resistors and potentiometers.
14. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 13, further comprising life support systems, wherein said rechargeable battery maintains power to life support systems in the event of a power loss of the primary power source.
15. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 5, in which the jet nozzles of the compressed air propulsion system are located on the underside of the vehicle for vertical lift.
16. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 5, in which the jet nozzles of the compressed air propulsion system are located on the rear of the vehicle for propulsion.
17. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 5, in which the jet nozzles of the compressed air propulsion system are located on the sides of the vehicle for lateral movement.
18. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 5, in which the jet nozzles of the compressed air propulsion system are located on the front of vehicle for braking and reverse travel when applicable.
19. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 10, in which the motion detectors of the stabilizing and navigational system utilize a combination of radar and sonar to detect the presence of an object in the vicinity thereof that might present a threat to the vehicle of the present invention.
20. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 10, in which the motion detectors of the stabilizing and navigational system are situated to provide full 360 degree coverage.
21. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 10, in which the motion detectors of the stabilizing and navigational system transmit data to said microprocessor which then takes appropriate evasive action when notified of a potential hazard approaching or being approached by said vehicle.
22. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 10, in which the motion detectors of the stabilizing and navigational system are selectively adjustable by the operator to determine the range being scanned for potential dangerous objects.
23. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 1, in which the retractable wheel system comprises: a) wheels; b) wheel wells in which said wheels are positioned; c) means for retracting said wheels; d) means for hermetically sealing the wheel wells; and e) means for lifting said vehicle off of the ground to allow for retraction of said wheels.
24. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 23, in which the wheel retracting means comprises: a) means for selectively engaging and disengaging said wheels from the axle; and b) means for moving said wheels from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position and back.
25. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 23, in which the means for hermetically sealing the wheel wells are wheel well covers that are deployed during retraction and slide and lock into place in an airtight and watertight manner so as to increase the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic properties of the vehicle and to protect internal components such as the wheel braking system when used for waterbased transportation.
26. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 23, in which said means for lifting said vehicle are hydraulic lifts that are individually deployed by the operator for selectively lifting a portion of said vehicle.
27. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 23, wherein said means for lifting said vehicle are hydraulic jacks for use as landing gear during vertical takeoffs and landings.
28. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport as recited in claim 26, further comprising a parachute, wherein said hydraulic lifts are selectively pressurized by the operator to provide a springlike suspension and soften the landing during vertical landings including emergency landings using the parachute.
Description:
Vertical Take-Off and Landing Vehicle for Land, Water and Air Transport Description Technical Field The present invention relates generally to vehicles for land and air transport and, more specifically, to a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport which is submersible and utilizes compressed air to lift and propel said vehicle during travel.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention relates generally to vehicles for land, water and air transport and, more specifically, to a vehicle having vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The present invention is efficiently powered mechanically by an internal combustion engine and electrically by rechargeable battery banks that turn the disengagable drive shaft during land travel and compresses air which is ejected from jet nozzles that provide lift and thrust during water and air travel or it may rely on propellers that are part of the electrical system for movement.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport that will overcome the shortcomings of prior art devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport that has rechargeable electrical battery banks that receive a charge from the vehicle's engine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land and air transport wherein the charged electrical system could supply power to the drive shaft during land-and air operation without relying on fuel sources.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport having hydraulic pump jacks located on the undercarriage near each wheel which could be operated singularly to change a tire or simultaneously to raise the entire vehicle off the ground for maintenance or to prepare the vehicle for retraction of the wheels when readying for take-off, and act as a cushion if the tires do not detract for landing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport wherein activation of the retraction mechanism disengages the axle from the drive shaft and hydraulically retracts the wheels into a horizontal position within the vehicle's undercarriage.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport wherein the retraction of the wheels causes wheel well covers to move into position and enclose and seal the entire wheel areas in order to increase the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic properties of the vehicle.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport wherein activation of the retraction mechanism initiates deployment of collapsible ailerons from their stored position within the body of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport having an air compressor with a tank that can preferably contain a minimum of 6,000 psi of compressed air with said compressor powered mechanically during land, water and air operation to compress and store air that will be necessary for lift-off and which could then be powered mechanically, electrically or a combination thereof once in flight. A pressure gauge in the cockpit informs the operator of the current psi status at all times.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport having a plurality of jet nozzles connected to the air compression tank and located on the vehicle's underside to provide lift, on the rear for thrust, and possibly on the sides to enhance maneuverability or propellers as part of the electrical system for movement, and on the front to facilitate stopping and slowing down.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land and air transport having a microprocessor communicating with all on board systems.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land and air transport wherein the microprocessor inputs data from a gyroscope and actuates the jet nozzles accordingly to maintain stability during flight.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land and air transport having navigational aids that could include but are not limited to radar, sonar, an altimeter, sensitivity adjustable motion sensors, etc.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport wherein the microprocessor uses the data from said navigational aids to determine when impact with another object is imminent and responds by taking the appropriate evasive action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport having an emergency parachute with manual and automatic deployment means.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport wherein the hydraulic pump jacks act as shock absorbers when landing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land and air transport having a tempered glass bottom so as to provide a greater degree of visibility for the operator and passengers.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport having a solid rollover protection wall to reduce the injury incurred by the vehicle's occupants in the event of an errant landing.

One other object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water and air transport having an airtight cabin with an oxygen supply to provide life support at high altitudes and underwater including a pressure release valve to insure proper pressure balance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for land, water, and air transport having a sealed compartment attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle with an input nozzle allowing for the insertion of helium or some other anti-gravity substance with a gauge attached and/or inserted in the sealed compartment which reads the amount of the substance.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in flight; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the present invention during landing with the pump jacks deployed to act as shock absorbers and landing gear or the deployment of the collapsible tires can do the same; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the present invention upon landing; FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the major components of the present invention with the vehicle body depicted in phantom line.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the present invention during flight ; FIGURE 6 is a block diagram of the present invention illustrating the relationship of the vital components to one another; FIGURE 7 is a side view of the present invention with the parachute deployed during an emergency landing. Note the sensors emanating from all sides of the vehicle to detect any object that may cause an impact; FIGURE 8 is a block diagram depicting the action of the retraction mechanism preparing the vehicle to make the transition from land to water or air travel; FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the present invention in use as a water transport vessel; FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the present invention in use as a submersible water transport vessel; The reference numerals utilized in the drawing figures are defined as follows: 10 vehicle of the present invention 12 ailerons 14 hydraulic pump jack 16 wheels 18 retractable wheel well covers 20 motor 22 air intake unit 24 air compression pump 26 air compression tank 28 propulsion jets 30 stabilizing jets 32 gyroscope 34 adjustable spoiler 36 oxygen unit 38 oxygen release valve 40 parachute 42 parachute ripcord 44 rechargeable battery 46 microprocessor 48 helium tank 50 helium pressure gauge 52 compressor pressure gauge 54 motion sensors 56 altimeter 58 navigation lights 60 propulsion jetstreams 62 stabilizing jetstreams 64 generator 66 rollover protection wall 68 climate control unit 70 potentiometer 72 boat Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, Figures 1 through 9 illustrate the vehicle of the present invention indicated generally by the numeral 10.

Figure 1 shows the vehicle of the present invention 10 being thrust forward by propulsion jetstreams 60 during air travel with stabilization provided conjunctively by retractable ailerons 12, a rear spoiler 34 and stabilizing jetstreams 62, which are controlled by a microprocessor 46 and a gyroscope 32 as illustrated in figure 4. The vertical take-off and landing capabilities of the vehicle of the present invention 10 are demonstrated in figure 2 as stabilizing jetstreams 62 gently lower the vehicle 10 and hydraulic pumpjacks 14 are deployed as landing gear and support the vehicle 10 during retraction and extraction of the wheels 16 and related wheel well covers 18. The wheel well covers 18 move into place when the wheels 16 retract to form an airtight chassis for improved aerodynamics and hydrodynamics during air and sea travel. The ailerons 12 retract into the vehicle 10 when not being used for air travel. For land travel the wheels 16 are employed and engaged with the axle and the wheel well covers 18 are retracted out of the way and the vehicle of the present invention 10 functions essentially the same as a conventional automobile. The vehicle of the present invention 10 also has at least one rechargeable battery 44 that receives a trickle recharge from a generator 64 as does the motor 20. Potentiometers 70 are installed in-line between the generator 64 and the rechargeable battery 44 and between the generator 64 and the motor 20. The rechargeable battery 44 also provides power to the emergency systems if the motor 20 fails thereby allowing the operator to get the vehicle of the present invention to a safe area.

The primary components of the vehicle of the present invention 10 are illustrated in figure 4 including the air compression system having an air intake unit 22 that provides the air that is forced into the air compression tank 26 by the air compression pump 24 where it is then fed to the air propulsion jets 28 and air stabilizing jets 30 as needed. A helium tank 48 is provided to lessen the weight of the vehicle of the present invention 10. A parachute 40 is automatically released if there is a power shut down during air flight and could also be manually deployed by a ripcord 42 located inside the cabin. Another safety feature shown in figure 4 is the rollover protection wall 66 that will protect the passengers in the event of a rollover by preventing the roof from being crushed. The cabin temperature is maintained by a climate control unit 68 and pressurized for air and underwater travel and has oxygen pumped in by an oxygen unit 36 and regulated by an oxygen release valve 38. Ideally the oxygen release valve is located centrally at the top of the cabin to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a dangerous level.

Navigation lights 58 are strategically placed on all sides including the top and bottom of the vehicle of the present invention 10 as is depicted in figures 4 and 5. Any appropriate high intensity light means may be used including but not limited to strobes, beacons, LED's or any combination thereof. Motion sensors 54 are also located on all sides and transmit data to the microprocessor 46 which will initiate the appropriate evasive maneuvers when an imminent collision is detected.




 
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