AU2007221774A1

AU2007221774A1 - Movement control system

Info

Publication number: AU2007221774A1
Application number: AU2007221774A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marshall Dale Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2007-10-02
Publication date: 2008-04-17

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: Marshall Dale Walker Marshall Dale Walker LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

"MOVEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2006905389 filed on 29 September 2007 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:

STITLE

0 "MOVEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM" The present invention relates to a movement control system for a vehicle, the vehicle being a land vehicle or a water vehicle.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a movement 0 control system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a first side and a second side, the movement control system comprising first and second flaps attached to the first and second sides respectively of the vehicle, each of the first and second flaps arranged to move between a first position whereby the flap is substantially flush with the respective side of the vehicle and a second position whereby the flap extends outwardly of the respective side of the vehicle.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a water vehicle having a movement control system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the movement control system having two flaps in a first position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the water vehicle of Figure 1 with one flap in a second position; Figure 3 is a plan view of the water vehicle of Figure 1 with both flaps in the second position; Figure 4 is a plan view of a water vehicle having a movement control system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the movement control 0 system having two flaps in a first position; Figure 5 is a plan view of the water vehicle of Figure 4 with both flaps in a second

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position; Figure 6 is a plan view of a land vehicle having a movement control system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the movement control system having two flaps in a first position; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the land vehicle of Figure 6 with both flaps in a second Sposition.

Referring to the Figures, there is shown in Figures 1 to 3 a water vehicle 10. The water vehicle 10 has a first side 12 being the port side and a second side 14 being the starboard side. The water vehicle 10 has a bow 16 and a stern 18.

The water vehicle 10 has a first flap 20 and a second flap 22 disposed in the first side 12 and the second side 14 respectively.

The first and second flaps 20, 22 are adjacent the stem 18 of the water vehicle The first and second flaps 20, 22 are each affixed to the water vehicle 10 by means of a respective hinge 24. Each hinge 24 is arranged on a front edge of the respective flap 22, being the edge remote from the stern 18.

The flaps 20, 22 are shown in Figure 1 in a first position whereby each flap is substantially flush with the respective side 12, 14 of the water vehicle Means is provided to selectively move an edge of a flap 20, 22 remote from the hinge 24 in a direction outward of the respective side 12, 14. Activation of this means causes the flap 20, 22 to move to a second position whereby the flap 20, 22 extends from the respective side 12, 14 of the water vehicle 10. Figure 2 shows the first flap 20 in the O second position.

SIn this embodiment the flaps 20, 22 can be independently moved between the first and

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second positions. Figure 3 shows the water vehicle 10 with both flaps 20, 22 in the second position.

s A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5, with like numerals denoting like features.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 the flaps 20, 22 are adjacent the bow 16 of the Swater vehicle 10. Each hinge 24 is arranged on a rear edge of the respective flap 20, 22, being the edge remote from the bow 16.

Figure 4 shows the water vehicle 10 with both flaps 20, 22 in the first position. Figure shows the water vehicle 10 with both flaps 20, 22 in the second position. It will be appreciated that the flaps 20, 22 may still be operated independently.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 6 and 7, with like numerals denoting like features.

In the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 the movement control system is applied to a land vehicle 26 such as a car. The arrangement of the flaps 20, 22 is similar to that of the second embodiment.

In use, the movement control system operates as follows.

In relation to the water vehicle 10, the movement control system can operate as both a rudder and a braking system. When control of the water vehicle 10 is not required, both flaps 20, 22 are maintained in the first position. This situation is shown in Figure 1.

If it is desired to turn the water vehicle 10 to port, the first flap 20 is moved to the second position. This situation is shown in Figure 2. The movement of the first flap 20 increases drag on the first side 12 of the water vehicle 10, and thus causes the water vehicle 10 to O turn in that direction. Alternately, a turn to starboard may be accomplished by similar Soperation of the second flap 22.

o If it is desired to brake the water vehicle 10, both flaps 20, 22 are moved to the second position. This situation is shown in Figure 3. The movement of the flaps 20,22 increases drag on both sides 12, 14 of the water vehicle 10 and thus produces a braking effect.

It will be appreciated that the above effects will be similar but more dramatic where the movement system is arranged as in the second embodiment shown in Figures 4 and N, It will further be appreciated that a water vehicle 10 may be equipped with both the first and second embodiments of the invention.

In the event that only a rudder mechanism is required, and no braking mechanism, the first and second flaps 20, 22 may be joined at a pivot within the water vehicle 10, and be arranged to rotate as a single body about this pivot rather than the hinges 24.

In relation to the land vehicle 26, the movement system can operate by increasing air drag on one or both sides 12, 14 of the land vehicle 26 in a similar manner to that of the water vehicle 10. As such, the movement control system can augment other steering and braking systems within the land vehicle Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A movement control system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a first side and a second side, the movement control system comprising first and second flaps attached to the first and second sides respectively of the vehicle, each of the first and second flaps arranged to move between a first position whereby the flap is N, substantially flush with the respective side of the vehicle and a second position whereby the flap extends outwardly of the respective side of the vehicle.

2. A movement control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second flaps are each affixed to the vehicle by means of a respective hinge and wherein means is provided to selectively move an edge of a flap remote from the hinge in a direction outward of the respective side.

3. A movement control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second flaps can be independently moved between the first and second positions.

4. A movement control system for a vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second flaps are located substantially towards the rear of the vehicle. A movement control system for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 0 wherein the first and second flaps are located substantially towards the front of the vehicle.

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6. A movement control system for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a first set of first and second flaps are located substantially towards the rear of the vehicle and a second set of first and second flaps are located substantially towards the front of the vehicle.

7. A movement control system for a vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second flaps are each joined at a pivot within the vehicle and are arranged to rotate as a single body around this pivot.

8. A movement control system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flaps are arranged to operate as steering members and/or braking members.

9. A vehicle provided with a movement control system according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, which is a water vehicle.

11. A movement control system for a vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.