摘要:
A method for minimizing the weight of an internally pressurized aircraft fuselage of a type that includes an elongated tubular shell having a near-elliptical cross-section with a radius R(φ)- and a curvature Curv(φ), where φ is a roll elevation angle of the shell, includes tailoring at least one structural attribute of the shell as a function of at least one of the elevation angle φ, R(φ) and Curv(φ) so as to reduce the weight of the fuselage relative to an identical fuselage shell in which the same at least one structural attribute has not been so tailored.
摘要:
An aircraft fuselage includes a tubular shell having a centerline axis, opposite ends, and a cross-section having a radius R(φ), where φ is the angular coordinate of a cylindrical coordinate system, a curvature Curv(φ), where Curv(φ) is the inverse of a local radius of curvature of a surface of the shell, and a circumferential shape that varies radially by no more than ±7% from that of an elliptical cross-section at substantially every station along the centerline axis between the nose and tail ends thereof. The weight of the shell is minimized by “tailoring,” i.e., optimizing, at least one structural attribute, expressed as a function of φ, associated with every element of the shell, such that the weight of the shell required to react a design load incident thereon is less than that required to react the same design load, but wherein the same structural attribute has not been so tailored.
摘要:
A method and apparatus comprising a plurality of seating systems and a frame for use in a passenger aircraft. A first seating system in the plurality of seating systems may have different dimensions from a second seating system in the plurality of seating systems. A frame may be configured to be connected to the plurality of seating systems.
摘要:
Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention provides low-cost inflatable heliostatic solar power collectors, which can be stand-alone units suitable for flexible utilization in small, medium, or utility scale applications. The inflatable heliostatic power collectors use a reflective surface or membrane “sandwiched” between two inflated chambers, and attached solar power receivers which may be of photovoltaic and/or solar thermal types. Modest concentration ratios enable benefits in both reduced cost and increased conversion efficiency, relative to simple prior-art flat plate solar collectors.
摘要:
A seating and treadmill exercise device for passengers to exercise on an aircraft, capable of being displaced between stowed and deployed positions. While passengers board the aircraft, the seating and treadmill exercise device may be placed in the stowed position to allow passengers to freely move about the aircraft cabin. A folding seat is attached to the underside of the treadmill track, providing a seat for an airline attendant when the aircraft is taxiing and taking off, or landing. While the aircraft is in route, on long distance flights, the seating and treadmill exercise device may be placed in the deployed position so that passengers are able to exercise and stretch their legs, thus enhancing passenger well-being and health and helping to prevent maladies associated with long periods of sitting such as Deep Vein Thrombosis.
摘要:
An improvement to an aircraft flight control system is provided for reducing the likelihood of an aircraft tailstrike. The flight control system includes a pitch command provided to a pitch control device for altering the aircraft's pitch attitude. The improvement is a system of altering the pitch command to avoid an aircraft tailstrike. The improvement includes determining a current tailskid closure rate and a current tail height; comparing the current tailskid closure rate with a threshold closure rate to determine an excess closure rate amount; and adding an incremental nose-down pitch command with the pitch command to avoid a potential aircraft tailstrike. The threshold closure rate is dependent upon the current tailskid height. The incremental nose-down pitch command is calculated as a function of the excess closure rate amount. An alternative embodiment is provided in which the current height is compared with a threshold height (that is a function of the current tailskid closure rate) to determine an excess height amount. The excess height is then used to form an incremental nose-down pitch command. Another embodiment is described using both height and rate thresholds to calculate the incremental nose-down pitch command. Alternative arrangements may be used in which other non-derivative and derivative values are used, e.g., pitch angle margin and pitch rate.
摘要:
An automated cart stowage system is provided for use in an aircraft having a passenger deck with a galley and a lower deck located below the passenger deck. The system includes a number of movable galley carts, a container sized and shaped to be located within the lower deck, a passageway located in the container and extending vertically upward into the galley, a cart lift for automatically transferring at least one galley cart at a time between the passenger deck and the container, and access device positionable within the passageway. The container is used for storing the galley carts during flight. The container includes first and second interior regions. The galley carts are storable end-to-end in the second region. An access space is left available between carts. During normal operations, the cart lift transfers carts between the passenger deck and the container. During anomalous conditions, the access device is made available to assist an attendant in entering and exiting the container via the passageway to thereby manually transfer material to and from the carts stored in the container. The first region provides an aisle for the attendant to access the carts. The access space between carts allows the attendant to shift carts in order to access the contents of each cart.
摘要:
The invention provides a family of apparatus using a balloon supported reflective surface for reflecting light from the Sun. A basic embodiment of such an apparatus is a light weight, low cost heliostat using a balloon supported reflective surface. Another embodiment is a solar power concentration apparatus using multiple heliostats with balloon supported reflective surfaces. Yet another embodiment is a solar electric power apparatus, also using multiple heliostats with balloon supported reflective surfaces. Variant embodiments of these apparatus can be sited on land or water surfaces or in the air or in space.
摘要:
An ultra-efficient “green” aircraft propulsor utilizing an augmentor fan is disclosed. A balanced design is provided combining a fuel efficient and low-noise high bypass ratio augmentor fan and a low-noise shrouded high bypass ratio turbofan. Three mass flow streams are utilized to reduce propulsor specific fuel consumption and increase performance relative to conventional turbofans. Methods are provided for optimization of fuel efficiency, power, and noise by varying mass flow ratios of the three mass flow streams. Methods are also provided for integration of external propellers into turbofan machinery.
摘要:
The invention provides a floating ice sheet based renewable thermal energy harvesting system, that can harvest energy from naturally occurring temperature differential between liquid water below a floating ice sheet that is substantially at the freezing temperature of water (0 degrees C. or slightly lower for salt water), and colder air above the floating ice sheet. For example, this is a naturally occurring phenomenon in Arctic and Antarctic region sea ice or ice shelf regions, where the air temperature above the floating ice may range from −5 degrees C. down to winter extreme cold temperatures of around −50 degrees C. In addition to the inventive application of thermodynamic cycle engines to harvest renewable energy from this naturally occurring temperature differential, variant embodiments also combine wind energy and/or solar energy subsystems to provide synergistic further benefits and greater quantities of renewable energy harvestable from devices of this class.