GB2037170A

GB2037170A - Rotary wing device

Info

Publication number: GB2037170A
Application number: GB7930097A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-08-30
Filing date: 1979-08-30
Publication date: 1980-07-09
Also published as: GB2037170B

Abstract

A rotary wing device comprises a planar stabilizer disc (4) provided with a diametral slot (3) through which extends a planar wing member (6) to form wing elements extending on opposite sides of the stabilizer disc (4), guy wires (8-11) being provided between the stabilizer disc (4) and the wing member (6) for controlling the relative orientation of the stabilizer disc (4) and the wing member (6). A rigid arcuate harness (18, figure 5, not shown) and/or one or more kite strings (16) may be attached to the device. Two devices (20, 21, figure 7, not shown) may be assembled on a common frame (21), power sources (31, 31') being provided to drive the wing members (26, 26') and maintain the assembly in free flight. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary wing device This invention relates to rotary wing devices which are suitable for use as kites but which may have other applications. Known rotary wing kites have been difficult to control in flight. See U.S. DESIGN Patent 160,910; U.S. patent 4,121,794.

Rotary wing devices in the form of kites, rotate about a first symmetry axis of the wing member in an air current and obtain a lift in accordance with the Magnus effect.

The present invention seeks to provide a rotary wing device of increased performance and economy of construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a rotary wing device comprising a flat circular stabiliser disc and wing elements extending on opposite sides thereto in planes at right angles thereto wherein the stabiliser disc is provided with a diametral slot, wing elements comprise a flat wing member extending through the slot and guy wires are provided between the stabiliser disc and the wing member for retaining the stabiliser disc and the wing element in their relative positions.

Both the wing member and the stabilizer disc may comprise a frame of lightweight tubing covered with a lightweight film or foil. Preferably the wing member has a bilateral symmetry about a first axis perpendicular to the plane of the stabiliser disc and passing through the centre thereof and a bilateral symmetry about a second axis perpendicular to the said first axis and coincident with the slot.

Rigidity of the rotary wing device is achieved by means of guy wires which may extend from the edges of the stabilizer disc to the edges of the wing member in each quadrant of the device. The guy wires function to transfer stresses from the wing member to the stabilizer disc and vice versa. Fastening pins may be provided at the intersection of the outer edges of the wing member with the first axis of symmetry. A suitable kite harness, which may be flaccid or rigid, may be connected as a "V" to the fastening pins (at the free end of the "V"), and to a kitestring at the apex of the "V".

In alternative embodiment, the harness and kitestring may be omitted and the device may be used as a free flight device. In a further alternative embodiment, two or more of the rotary wing devices may be assembled on a common frame, driving means being provided on the frame to rotate the wing members relative to the frame.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of one form of the rotary wing device; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an alternative kitestring and harness connection; Figure 3 is a sketch of a further harness and kitestring connection; Figure 4 is a plan view of a rotary device having a retractable flat wing member; Figure 5 is a plan view of a rotary wing device having a rigid arcuate harness; Figure 6 is a plan view of a rotary wing device having a rigid enclosed arcuate harness; and Figure 7 is a plan view of a device having two rotary wing devices connected to a common frame.

The rotary wing device 1 comprises a flat wing member 2, shown as elliptical in shape, which fits into a slot 3 centrallv positioned in a stabilizer disc 4.

The wing member 2 has a peripheral frame 5. The stabilizer disc4 has a circular frame 7. The frames 5, 7 may be made of shaped wood, metal or plastic.

Metal or plastic rod or tubing is preferred. A particularly useful frame material is plastic rod or tubing such as glass-fiber-reinforced plastic or carbonfilament-reinforced plastic rod or tubing. A covering 6 is provided for the wing member 2 while a covering 12 is provided for the stabilizer disc4. The coverings 6 and 12 stretch across the frames 5,7 respectively and are fastened thereto by means of adhesives or tapes or byfilm-shrinking procedures. Typically, the stabilizer disc 2 may have a diameter from six inches to three feet when the device is employed as a kite.

The covering material preferably is a thin plastic film such as polyethylene terephthalate which is sold in the U.S.A. under the trademark Mylar and is sold elsewhere underthe trademark Melonex. Such material in 0.5 mil thickness is suitable for kite construction. The covering material may be used in thicker or thinner films. The polyethylene terephthalate films are dimensionally stable, have a useful film strength, are resistant to puncture and tearing. Other useful covering materials include other plastic films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, metal foils, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, strong papers and the like.

The stabilizer disc 4 has a central slot 3 formed across a diameter for receiving the wing member 2.

With the wing member 2 centered in the slot 3, the coverings 6, 12 may be sealed, together along the slot 3, suitably by means of an adhesive tape or an appropriate sealant.

For packaging and transporting purposes, the stabilizer disc 4 can be rotated about its diameter at its connection to the wing member 2 so as to lie flat against the wing member 2. When the device is assembled, guy wires 8, 9, 10, 11 extend from the edges of the stabilizer disc 4 ta the edges of the flat wing member 2 in each quadrant of the device. The guy wires 8, dug 10, 11 provide stability and rigidity for the assembled device and serve to transfer stresses from the stabilizer disc to the wing member and vice versa. The guy wires may be fabricated from plastic filaments or woven plastic strands, from metal wires, from suitabie threads or from strings.

The rotary wing device can be readily assembled and disassembled by disconnection of two opposed guy wires, e.g. 9 and 11, which are detachably engaged, eg, by a book and eye connection. By detaching opposing guy Wi wires, the stabilizer disc 4 can be rotated in the SsirectiOIl of the remaining guy wires until it lies flat against the wing member 2. To reassemble the device, the stabilizer disc 4 is repositioned and the tQvo detached guy wires are reconnected.

While Figure 1 shows a single guy wire in each quadrant of the device, it should be understood that multiple guy wires may be provided in each quadrant connecting the stabilizer disc frame 7 to the rotarty wing member frame 5.

The wing member 2 is essentially flat. This feature is believed to be the reason for the outstanding flying ability of the present rotary wing device - in comparison with prior similar devices which have employed profiled wing members.

A harness 14 is attached by pin members 15 to the ends of the wing member 2. The pin members 15 are aligned with a first axis of symmetry 17 of the wing member 2. A single kite-string 16 is attached to the apex of the "V" formed by the harness 14. Alternatively two kite-strings (not shown) may be used, one connected to each of the two pin members 15. As shown in Figure 2, the connection between the kitestring 16a and the harness 14a, 14b may be provided with a suitable control device 18 which controls the relative lengths 14a, 14b of the harness between the control device 18 and the pin members 1 Sa, 1 Sb so as to alterthe flight patterns of the device. As shown in Figure 3, the control device may be a spool 18a about which the harness 14a', 14b' is coiled and to which the kite-string 16a' is fastened.

While the wing member 2 is bilaterally symmetrical about its main axis of symmetry 17, it should be noted that the wing member 4 also is bilaterally symmetrical about a second axis of symmetry axis 19 which is perpendicular to the first axis of symmetry 17 and which is coincident with the slot 3 of the stabilizer disc 4.

The shape of the wing member 2 in the drawings is shown as elliptical with the major axis of the ellipse coinciding with the first axis of symmetry 17.

Howeverthe second axis of symmetry 19 may be longer than the first axis of symmetry 17, provided that the second axis of symmetry 19 is less than the diameter of the stabilizer disc 4.

The flat wing member 2 also may have a diamond shape or a circular shape which accommodates two perpendicular axis of symmetry. Other geometric shapes which will satisfy the need for two perpendicular axis of symmetry also may be selected for the flat wing member 2. As shown in Figure 4, it is possible to alter the aspect ratio of the flat wing member4a of the device la by providing means for sliding two halves of the flat wing member 4a toward each other through the central slot (not shown) in the stabilizer disc 2a to a retracted position 4'a. The flat wing member retains its bilateral symmetry about the first axis of symmetry 17a in both the extended position wherein the length of the flat wing member4a is maximum and the retracted position wherein the length of the flat wing member 4'a is minimum.

In use as a kite, the device 1 spins about the first axis of symmetry 17 with the wing member 2 having its kite-string edge (that is, the edge which is nearest to the kite-string 16 at any instant) moving upwardly.

Such rotation constitutes a stable flight mode. The rotation of the device 1 may be reversed, for exam ple, by suitable controls, by changes in the kitestring tension, so that the kite-string edge of the wing member 2 moves downwardly. Thus the flight mode alters and the device descends rapidly. Stable flight can be restored by suitable controls or by changes in the kite-string tension. A skilled kite operator can cause the device to ascend and to descend by skillfully causing changes in the direction of rotation of the wing member 2.

The flight direction can be controlled by adjusting the angle of the plane of the wing member 2 with respect to the plane of the stabilizer disc 4. Normally the planes of the flat wing member 2 and the stabilizer disc 4 are at right angles to each other. A slight change in that angle (prior to flight in the case of a kite) will cause the device to move in a corresponding direction. The angle adjustment may be achieved by altering the relative lengths of guy wires 8, 9, 10 and 11.

Mechanical linkages (not shown) or other means may be provided to regulate the relative lengths of the guy wires 9, 10, 11 and 12, and thereby control the direction of movement of the device. Such mechanical linkages or other means may be oper ate by remote controls or by supplemental kite strings, for example.

Occasionally when the device is operated as a kite, the rotation of the flat wing member may cease in flight and the kite will appear stationary for extended periods.

When the coverings 6 and 12 are formed from metal foils or metallized plastic films, arresting visual effects are created as ambient lights are reflected from the rotating surfaces. One or more spot lights may be directed against an airborne device to create attention-arresting light flashes in the sky. A particularly useful application of the present rotary wing device is for rescue work. Lost dots, landed aircraft, hikers, skiers, travelers can attract attention by flying the metallized kites of this invention. The turning surfaces reflect sunlight, moonlight and other ambient lights. The surfaces also may be made from a microwave-reflective material to facilitate identification of the devices by radar detection equipment.

The rotary wing device 1,free of harness and kitestrings, can be used as a free flight toss-and-catch toy thrown from one person to another. Multiple units of the device might be tossed into the air for free flight creating sparkling visual effects in the sky.

As shown in Figure 5, the harness may be fabricated as a rigid arcuate member 18 from lightweight rods or tubing, of metal or plastics, especially fibrereinforced plastic tubing. The rigid arcuate member 18 accommodates the rotation of the device and precludes the possibility of interference between the harness and the rotation and thus renders the device snag-proof. The open ends of the rigid arcuate member 18 are rotatably connected to the pin members. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6, the harness may be fabricated as an enclosed rigid member 19, circuiar or elliptical in form from the same lightweight materials. The enclosed harness is connected at diametrically opposed points to the pin members.

The enclosed harness has the advantages of the arcuate harness of Figure 5, i.e., it is snag-proof, but in addition the harness of Figure 6 has an interesting benefit when the device is employed as a throwing or tossing toy. By proper manipulation, the rotary device of Figure 6 will perform like a boomerang and will return gracefully to the thrower.

With appropriate materials of construction, the present device can be produced with a stabiliser disc diameter of three feet and a weight of three ounces or less.

As shown in Figure 7 multiple units 20 (20') of the device may be assembled on a common frame 21 which has opposed yoke arms 22, 23 (22', 23') with bearings 24, 25(24', 25'). The wing members 26 (26') of the multiple units 20 (20') have a lengthwise shaft 27 (27') connected through the bearing 24, 25 (24', 25') to a pulley 28 (28') which in turn is connected through a drive belt 29 (29') to a drive pulley 30 (30') which is driven by a suitable reversing power source 31(31'). By positively driving the wing members 26 (26') in the same or in opposite directions, and by properly adjusting the inclination of the stabilizer discs 32,32' to wing members 26,26' for the units 20 (20') the movement of the assembly of Figure 7 can be controlled in free flight.

Claims

1. A rotary wing device comprising a flat circular stabilizer disc and wing elements extending on opposite sides thereof in planes at right angles thereto wherein the stabilizer disc is provided with a diametral slot, the wing elements comprise a flat wing member extending through the slot and guy wires are provided between the stabilizer disc and the wing member for retaining the stabilizer disc and the wing element in their relative positions.

2. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stabilizer disc and the wing member comprise a frame of thin lightweight rod or tubing covered with a lightweight film or foil.

3. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wing member has a bilateral symmetry about a first axis perpendicular to the plane of the stabilizer disc and passing through the centre thereof and a bilateral symmetry about a second axis perpendicular to the said first axis and coincident with the slot.

4. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least four guy wires are provided, one in each quadrant of the device.

5. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein pin members are secured to the ends of the flat wing member at the intersection of the first symmetry axis of symmetry with the edges of the flat wing member.

6. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a "V" shape harness is provided having its open ends each secured to one of the pin members and having a kite-string secured to the apex of the "V".

7. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the harness has a control means secured at the apex of the "V" and the kite-string is secured to the control means, the control means establishing the relative lengths of the two open ends of the harness.

8. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein opposed guy wire means can be detached to permit folding of the stabilizer disc flat about the slot against the flat wing member.

9. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the film or foil has flight reflecting surface.

10. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the peripheral frames are covered with polyethylene terephthalate film.

11. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the film has a metallized lightreflecting surface.

12. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the frames are made from plastic rod or tubing.

13. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the film or foil has a microwave-reflecting surface.

14. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 5 or any claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein a rigid harness is rotatably connected to the pin members by its open ends.

15. A rotary wing device as claimed in claim 5 or any claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein an enclosed arcuate rigid harness is connected at diametrically opposed points to the pin members.

16. A rotary wing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the flat wing member is fabricated from two sections which can be moved through the slot of the stabilizer disc from a retracted position wherein the length of the flat wing member is minimum to an extended position wherein the length of the flat wing member is maximum.

17. A rotary wing device capable of free flight comprising a frame member at least two rotary wing devices as claimed in claim 3 or any claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, each independently rotatably secured to the frame by means of a rotatable shaft coinciding with the first axis of symmetry of each rotary wing device, the axes of each rotatable shaft being parallel and means secured to the frame memberforrotating each rotary wing device about its rotatable shaft.

18. A rotary wing device substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.