US 11,745,890 B1
Fuel pod for hybrid electric aircraft
Kyle B. Clark, South Burlington, VT (US); and Herman Wiegman, South Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/733,686.
Int. Cl. B64D 37/04 (2006.01); B64D 35/04 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 37/04 (2013.01) [B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64D 35/04 (2013.01); B64C 29/0008 (2013.01); B64D 2027/026 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid electric aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage and a wing;
at least a flight component in mechanical communication with the fuselage and configured to propel the hybrid electric aircraft;
at least a battery mounted in the fuselage and configured to selectively power the at least a flight component;
a flight controller configured to control the operation of the hybrid electric aircraft; and
a fuel pod removably attached to the fuselage or the wing, wherein the fuel pod comprises:
a housing;
a fuel tank contained within the housing, wherein the fuel tank is configured to hold a fuel therein;
a generator contained within the housing and connected to the fuel tank, wherein the generator is configured to power at least one of a plurality of flight components of the hybrid electric aircraft, wherein the generator is configured to recharge at least a battery onboard the hybrid electric aircraft during operation; and
a connection mechanism at the housing, wherein the connection mechanism is configured to removably attach the fuel pod to the hybrid electric aircraft, wherein the fuel pod is selectively attached to the hybrid electric aircraft as a function of a flight plan or payload of the hybrid electric aircraft, and wherein the connection mechanism comprises:
a mechanical interface comprising a keyed locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the housing to the hybrid electric aircraft;
an electrical interface configured to electrically link to at least one of the plurality of flight components of the hybrid electric aircraft; and
a communication interface configured to communicatively link the fuel pod to the flight controller.