The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 08, 2000
Patrick Edward Frye, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Charles T. Kudija, Jr., Newhall, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A solar thermal engine for propelling and powering a craft. The solar thermal engine includes a housing, a propellant annulus, a plurality of static power converters and an electrical energy storage device. The housing has an optical cavity for receiving a beam of concentrated sunlight and converting the beam into ambient thermal energy. The propellant annulus is coupled to the housing and is selectively operable in a heating mode wherein the propellant annulus transmits at least a first portion of the ambient thermal energy to heat a flow of propellant. The plurality of static power converters are coupled to the housing and receive the first portion of the ambient thermal energy when the propellant annulus is not operated in the heating mode. The plurality of static power converters employ the first portion of the ambient thermal energy to generate electrical energy. The electrical energy storage device is coupled to the plurality of static power converters and receives and stores the electrical energy generated by the plurality of static power converters. A method for propelling and powering a craft is also provided.