Radiant energy power source for jet aircraft and missiles

Claim 2

A combined jet engine radiant energy power source comprising radiant energy transparent means proximate the radiant energy source combustion chamber of the jet engine, photovoltaic cell means having a defined spectral response bandwidth juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means, thermal mass means thermally connected to said photovoltaic cell means; and means holding said radiant energy transparent means, photovoltaic cell means, and thermal mass means proximate the radiant energy source whereby radiated energy from the engine passing through said transparent means falls on said photovoltaic cell means to generate electrical power.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said radiant energy transparent means is a thermal insulator located interiorly an opening in the jet engine outer casing.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said thermal mass means has similar thermal expansion characteristics as does said radiant energy transparent means.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said means holding said radiant energy transparent means, photovoltaic cell means, and thermal mass means is attached to the outside casing of the jet engine.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said photovoltaic cell means juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means is coated with a thin film coating which reflects radiant energy outside the spectral response bandwidth of the photovoltaic cells.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said means holding said radiant energy transparent means, said photovoltaic cell means, and said thermal means to said jet engine, casing means comprises fiberglass.

Claim 8

The combination as power source for jet aircraft defined in claim 3 wherein the radiant energy transparent means comprises quartz.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said thermal mass means comprises invar metal.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the radiant energy transparent means comprises pyrex glass.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the radiant energy transparent means comprises vycor glass.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said thermal mass means comprises air cooled means having fins whereby heat is removed by air passing over said fins.

Claim 13

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said thermal mass means comprises water cooled means.

Claim 14

The combination as as defined in claim 1 wherein said photovoltaic cells comprise gallium arsenide cells.

Claim 15

The combination as as defined in claim 1 wherein said photovoltaic cells comprise silicon cells.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 1 wherein said jet engine is the jet engine of a jet aircraft.

Claim 17

A combined rocket engine and radiant energy power source for missiles comprising radiant energy transparent means proximate the radiant energy source plume of the missile, photovoltaic cell means having a defined spectral response bandwidth juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means, thermal mass means thermally connected to said photovoltaic cell means; and means holding said radiant energy transparent means, photovoltaic cell means, and thermal mass means proximate the radiant energy source whereby radiated energy from the missile plume passing through said transparent means falls on said photovoltaic cell means to generate electrical power for use in the missile.

Claim 18

A combined rocket engine and radiant energy power source for missiles comprising radiant energy transparent means proximate the radiant energy source plume of the missile, photovoltaic cell means having a defined spectral response bandwidth juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means, thermal mass means thermally connected to said photovoltaic cell means; and means holding said radiant energy transparent means, photovoltaic cell means, and thermal mass means proximate the radiant energy source whereby radiated energy from the missile plume passing through said transparent means falls on said photovoltaic cell means to generate electrical power for use in the missile.

Claim 19

The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein said radiant energy transparent means is a thermal insulator located on the aft end of the missile.

Claim 20

The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein said thermal mass means has similar thermal expansion characteristics as does said radiant energy transparent means.

Claim 21

The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein the radiant energy transparent means comprises quartz.

Claim 22

The combination defined in claim 18 wherein the radiant energy transparent means comprises pyrex glass.

Claim 23

The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein the radiant energy transparent means comprises vycor glass.

Claim 24

The combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said photovoltaic cell means juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means is coated with a thin film coating which reflects radiant energy outside the spectral response bandwidth of the photovoltaic cells.

Claim 25

The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein said photovoltaic cells comprises gallium arsenide cells.

Claim 26

The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein said photovoltaic cells comprises silicon cells.

Claim 27

A combination engine and radiant energy power source comprising an engine including a high temperature combustion means forming a radiant energy source and radiant energy transparent means proximate the radiant energy source formed by the high temperature combustion means, photovoltaic cell means having a defined spectral response bandwidth juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means, thermal mass means thermally connected to said photovoltaic cell means, and means holding said radiant energy transparent means, photovoltaic cell means and thermal mass means proximate the radiant energy source formed by said combustion means whereby radiated energy from the combustion means passes through said transparent means and is received by said photovoltaic cell means, said photovoltaic cell means being responsive thereto for generating electric power.

Claim 28

A combination engine and radiant energy power source comprising an engine including a high temperature combustion means forming a radiant energy source and radiant energy transparent means proximate the radiant energy source formed by the high temperature combustion means, photovoltaic cell means having a defined spectral response bandwidth juxtaposed said radiant energy transparent means, thermal mass means thermally connected to said photovoltaic cell means, and means holding said radiant energy transparent means, photovoltaic cell means and thermal mass means proximate the radiant energy source formed by said combustion means whereby radiated energy from the combustion means passes through said transparent means and is received by said photovoltaic cell means, said photovoltaic cell means being responsive thereto for generating electric power.

Claim 29

The combination 25 wherein the engine is a gas turbine.

Claim 30

The combination 25 wherein the engine is a gas turbine.

Claim 31

The combination 25 wherein the engine is a jet engine.

Claim 32

The combination 25 wherein the engine is a jet engine.