초록 ▼

Air-ground vehicle fuel tank configurations and associated features are described that can be incorporated in the structural design of a vehicle in ways that improve both the ground mobility and flight capability of the vehicle. A vehicle frame may include a fuel tank with a main tank and two or mor

Air-ground vehicle fuel tank configurations and associated features are described that can be incorporated in the structural design of a vehicle in ways that improve both the ground mobility and flight capability of the vehicle. A vehicle frame may include a fuel tank with a main tank and two or more auxiliary tanks. The main tank may be disposed along the centerline of the vehicle, and the auxiliary tanks may extend upward and outward from the main tank, for example forming a “V” shape when viewed from the front. The auxiliary tanks may be substantially arc-shaped, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and may be attached to the main tank at each end of the arc-shape. Each of the auxiliary tanks may include an attachment mechanism configured to attach to an airfoil suspension at or near an apex of the auxiliary tanks.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle frame, incorporated in a vehicle, said frame comprising: a fuel tank including a main tank disposed substantially along a centerline of the vehicle; anda pair of tubular supports, each of the tubular supports being substantially arc-shaped and extending upward and outward from the cente

1. A vehicle frame, incorporated in a vehicle, said frame comprising: a fuel tank including a main tank disposed substantially along a centerline of the vehicle; anda pair of tubular supports, each of the tubular supports being substantially arc-shaped and extending upward and outward from the centerline of the vehicle and converging to the centerline of the vehicle at each end of the arc-shape,wherein each of the tubular supports includes an attachment mechanism at a top of the arc-shape, the attachment mechanisms configured to attach to an airfoil suspension, andwherein the pair of tubular supports form a “V” shape viewed from a front of the vehicle, with a bottom of the “V” shape on the centerline of the vehicle and a top of the “V” shape corresponding to the top of the arc-shape. 2. The vehicle frame of claim 1, wherein the main tank is substantially tube-shaped. 3. The vehicle frame of claim 1, wherein each of the tubular supports is configured as an auxiliary fuel tank. 4. The vehicle frame of claim 1, further comprising elongated structural members that connect the tubular supports to the centerline of the vehicle, wherein each of the tubular supports is connected to one of the structural members at, or about, the attachment mechanism such that a lift force from the airfoil suspension is distributed to the centerline of the vehicle during flight. 5. The vehicle frame of claim 1, wherein the main tank is connected to at least one of a front wheel suspension and a rear wheel suspension, at least the main tank is configured as a loadbearing frame for the at least one of the front and rear wheel suspensions, and at least the tubular supports are configured as a load-bearing frame for the airfoil suspension. 6. The vehicle frame of claim 1, further compromising a cockpit disposed over the main tank and between the tubular supports, and an overhead control panel disposed at least partially above the cockpit and between the tubular supports, wherein the overhead control panel includes one or more of electrical hard point controls, circuit breakers, engine monitors, atmospheric indicators, performance indicators, and one or more structural supports connecting the tubular supports. 7. The vehicle frame of claim 1, wherein the frame is incorporated in the vehicle that is configured to be suspended by the attachment mechanism attached to the tubular supports. 8. The vehicle frame of claim 1, wherein the frame is integrated in the vehicle and the main tank and the tubular supports extend along at least 75% of the length of the vehicle. 9. The vehicle frame of claim 1, further comprising a cockpit disposed substantially above the main tank and between the tubular supports and including a seat for a human pilot; and a cargo area disposed rearward of the cockpit. 10. The vehicle frame of claim 9, wherein the cargo area includes a passenger seat for a human passenger. 11. The vehicle frame of claim 1, further comprising an overhead control panel mounted to and between the tubular supports, the overhead control panel including at least one of an electrical hard point control, a circuit breaker, an engine monitor, an atmospheric indicator, or a performance indicator. 12. A fuel tank for a vehicle, the fuel tank comprising: a main tank; andat least two auxiliary tanks, wherein, the at least two auxiliary tanks extend upward and outward from the main tank, and the at least two auxiliary tanks are substantially arc-shaped, and are attached to the main tank at each end of the arc-shape,wherein the at least two auxiliary tanks form a “V” shape and are joined to the main tank at the base of the “V” when viewed from a front of the fuel tank and the top of the “V” shape corresponds to a top of the arc-shape, andwherein the at least two auxiliary tanks are each directly attached to a respective front shock absorber for a front wheel suspension of the vehicle, and a respective rear shock absorber for a rear wheel suspension of the vehicle. 13. The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two auxiliary tanks includes a check valve at, or about, each end, each of the check valves configured to allow fuel to flow from the auxiliary tanks to the main tank and impede fuel from flowing from the main tank to the auxiliary tanks. 14. The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two auxiliary tanks includes a check valve that allows fuel to flow from the auxiliary tanks to the main tank and impedes fuel from flowing from the main tank to the auxiliary tanks. 15. The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the main tank is directly connected to at least one of the front wheel suspension and the rear wheel suspension. 16. The fuel tank of claim 15 wherein the vehicle has flight capability, at least the main tank is configured as a load-bearing frame for the front and rear wheel suspensions, and at least the auxiliary tanks are configured as a load-bearing frame for an airfoil suspension. 17. The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein, the at least two auxiliary tanks extend upward and outward from the main tank at an angle between 30° and 80° to horizontal. 18. The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the fuel tank is incorporated in the vehicle that is configured to be suspended by a connection mechanism attached directly to the auxiliary tanks. 19. The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the fuel tank includes open cell foam.