United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

William M Langford

David D North

William Todd Hodges

William J Fredericks

Paul M Rothhaar

Mark D Moore

Zachary R Johns

Sandy R Webb

Ronald C Busan

Christopher T Laws

William R Doggett

Thomas C Jones

Bryan C Yount

Richard Keith Bird

Douglas A Litteken

Judith J Watson

Earl T Hall

Timothy S Roach

Alberto Makino

Clarence E Stanfield

Molly M Selig

Winfred S Kenner

Samuel James

Khadijah I Shariff

David F Moore

Danny J Lovaglio

Laura A Leybold

James E Phelps

Arlon B Sullivan

Fred M Whitehead

Jerry E Warren

Vincenzo M Le Boffe

Lana P Hicks-Olson

An inflatable pressure structure includes an airtight flexible membrane having collapsed and inflated configurations. The inflatable pressure structure includes an elongated pressure-assisted seal that is configured to selectively seal an opening in the airtight flexible membrane. The pressure-assisted seal includes first and second seal components that sealingly engage one another and prevent escape of gas from inside the airtight flexible membrane. The airtight flexible membrane, when inflated, generates a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal tending to pull the first and second seal components apart. Pressurized gas inside the airtight flexible membrane causes the first and second seal components to more securely engage one another whereby a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal does not disengage the first and second seal components.

Pressure-assisted linear seal

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing ('VTOL') and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.

Vertical takeoff and landing vehicle with increased cruise efficiency

Vertical take-off and landing vehicle with increased cruise efficiency

Growing community of inventors

Hampton, VA, United States of America

William M Langford