GB2045096A

GB2045096A - Model flying wing

Info

Publication number: GB2045096A
Application number: GB7911497A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mcbroom G P
Current assignee: Mcbroom G P
Priority date: 1979-03-31
Filing date: 1979-03-31
Publication date: 1980-10-29

Abstract

A flying model comprises one or a pair of wings the centre of gravity of each wing being located at a position adjacent to an end, whereby, in descending flight, the wing rotates substantially about its centre of gravity. A hook 6 is provided for catapulting. It may be integral with a spring 19 which pushes two wings 12, 13 apart to allow them to descend independently. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flying model aircraft This invention relates to flying model aircraft and in particular to such model aircraft that obtain flight from a rotating blade or wing.

According to one aspect of the present invention a flying model aircraft comprises a blade or wing the centre of gravity of which is adjacent one end whereby in descending flight the blade or wing rotates substantially about its centre of gravity.

Further according to this aspect of the present invention the location of the centre of gravity is determined by at least one comparatively heavy mass positioned adjacent said one end, which heavy mass may be provided by the use of thicker or denser material than that used for the remainder of the wing.

Preferably the centre of gravity is determined by two masses one being positioned adjacent one end, the other being positioned along the front edge of the blade or wing.

In a preferred embodiment the mass adjacent one end is heavier than the mass positioned along the front edge of the wing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a flying model aircraft comprises a pair of blades or wings each blade or wing having a centre of gravity adjacent one end and each blade or wing being provided with coupling means adjacent said one end whereby the blades or wings forming the pair may be coupled together and launched, and remain coupled together until the momentum resulting from the launch is substantially lost whereupon the two blades or wings separate and each rotates substantially about its own centre of gravity during descent, Further according to the second aspect of the invention the coupling means coupling the two blades or wings together is provided by an interlocking formation formed by the said one ends, and one of said blades or wings forming a pair includes a spring member which is deflected by the other said blade or wing when the two blades or wings are coupled together and assists the separation of the two blades or wings.

Preferably one or both of said blades or wings includes hook means whereby the aircraft may be launched by means of a catapult.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a flying model aircraft having a singie blade or wing according to one aspect of the invention, Figure 2 shows a side view of the aircraft shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a plan view of a flying model aircraft having a pair of blades or wings coupled together ready for launch according to another aspect of the invention and, Figure 4 shows the aircraft of Figure 3 with the blades or wings separating prior to their descent.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a flying model aircraft 1 mouldedfrom a plastics material such as polystyrene foam is provided with a blade or wing portion 2 having a root end portion 3 in which is located a lead weight 4. An auxiliary weight 5 of thin strip lead may be located along one of the edges of the portion 2 if desired fortrim purposes. A hook 6 may be moulded integrally with the root end 3, or a metal wire clip may be provided snapped on to the end of the root end 3. The chord of the blade or wing portionmay be mouldedseparate- liy from the portion 2 and slotted to enable the portion 2 to be slid into place with adhesive if necessary.By using a catapult in engagement with the hook 6 the aircraft may be launched vertically upwards and, upon reaching the top of its trajectory, the aircraft will descend whilst spinning about a substantially vertical axis.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing a flying model aircraft 11 comprises two blade or wing portions 12, 13 having root end portions 14,15 respectively. Root end portion 15 is recessed at 16, the recess being acutely angled at 17 whilst root end portion 14 is correspondingly formed with an extended part 18 to engage the recess. A leaf spring 19, best shown in Figure 4 is fixed to the forward end of the part 18 and a launching hook 20 is integrally formed with the spring. Lead weights 21,22 are located in the root end portions 14, 15 respectively, and auxiliary trimming weights 23, 24 may be provided.

In use, the two portions 12, 13 are coupled together by means of the extended part 18 engaging the recess 16, the spring 19 being flattened between the two coupled parts. The aircraft is then launched upwardly by means of a catapult and the dynamic pressure arising from the forward motion maintains the two halves of the aircraft from separating. When the top of its trajectory is reached and the dynamic pressure falls, the spring 19 pushes the two halves apart and each descends separately spinning as it does so.

It will be understood that the shape of the or each blade or wing is not limited in any way, and that the variety of coupling arrangements is very extensive.

Further, the blades or wings may be made in a variety of ways from a variety of materials.

It will also be understood that the blade or wing may have an aerofoil cross-section and, it may be so designed that the part of maximum thickness is at or close to the leading edge so as to obviate the need for trimming weights.

1. A flying model aircraft comprising a blade or wing the centre of gravity of which is adjacent one end whereby in descending flight the blade or wing rotates substantially about its centre of gravity.

2. A flying model aircraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein the location of the centre of gravity is determined by at least one comparatively heavy mass.

3. A flying model aircraft as claimed in claim 2 wherein the location of the centre of gravity is determined by two masses, one being positioned

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flying model aircraft This invention relates to flying model aircraft and in particular to such model aircraft that obtain flight from a rotating blade or wing. According to one aspect of the present invention a flying model aircraft comprises a blade or wing the centre of gravity of which is adjacent one end whereby in descending flight the blade or wing rotates substantially about its centre of gravity. Further according to this aspect of the present invention the location of the centre of gravity is determined by at least one comparatively heavy mass positioned adjacent said one end, which heavy mass may be provided by the use of thicker or denser material than that used for the remainder of the wing. Preferably the centre of gravity is determined by two masses one being positioned adjacent one end, the other being positioned along the front edge of the blade or wing. In a preferred embodiment the mass adjacent one end is heavier than the mass positioned along the front edge of the wing. According to a second aspect of the present invention a flying model aircraft comprises a pair of blades or wings each blade or wing having a centre of gravity adjacent one end and each blade or wing being provided with coupling means adjacent said one end whereby the blades or wings forming the pair may be coupled together and launched, and remain coupled together until the momentum resulting from the launch is substantially lost whereupon the two blades or wings separate and each rotates substantially about its own centre of gravity during descent, Further according to the second aspect of the invention the coupling means coupling the two blades or wings together is provided by an interlocking formation formed by the said one ends, and one of said blades or wings forming a pair includes a spring member which is deflected by the other said blade or wing when the two blades or wings are coupled together and assists the separation of the two blades or wings. Preferably one or both of said blades or wings includes hook means whereby the aircraft may be launched by means of a catapult. Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a flying model aircraft having a singie blade or wing according to one aspect of the invention, Figure 2 shows a side view of the aircraft shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a plan view of a flying model aircraft having a pair of blades or wings coupled together ready for launch according to another aspect of the invention and, Figure 4 shows the aircraft of Figure 3 with the blades or wings separating prior to their descent. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a flying model aircraft 1 mouldedfrom a plastics material such as polystyrene foam is provided with a blade or wing portion 2 having a root end portion 3 in which is located a lead weight 4. An auxiliary weight 5 of thin strip lead may be located along one of the edges of the portion 2 if desired fortrim purposes. A hook 6 may be moulded integrally with the root end 3, or a metal wire clip may be provided snapped on to the end of the root end 3. The chord of the blade or wing portionmay be mouldedseparate- liy from the portion 2 and slotted to enable the portion 2 to be slid into place with adhesive if necessary.By using a catapult in engagement with the hook 6 the aircraft may be launched vertically upwards and, upon reaching the top of its trajectory, the aircraft will descend whilst spinning about a substantially vertical axis. Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing a flying model aircraft 11 comprises two blade or wing portions 12, 13 having root end portions 14,15 respectively. Root end portion 15 is recessed at 16, the recess being acutely angled at 17 whilst root end portion 14 is correspondingly formed with an extended part 18 to engage the recess. A leaf spring 19, best shown in Figure 4 is fixed to the forward end of the part 18 and a launching hook 20 is integrally formed with the spring. Lead weights 21,22 are located in the root end portions 14, 15 respectively, and auxiliary trimming weights 23, 24 may be provided. In use, the two portions 12, 13 are coupled together by means of the extended part 18 engaging the recess 16, the spring 19 being flattened between the two coupled parts. The aircraft is then launched upwardly by means of a catapult and the dynamic pressure arising from the forward motion maintains the two halves of the aircraft from separating. When the top of its trajectory is reached and the dynamic pressure falls, the spring 19 pushes the two halves apart and each descends separately spinning as it does so. It will be understood that the shape of the or each blade or wing is not limited in any way, and that the variety of coupling arrangements is very extensive. Further, the blades or wings may be made in a variety of ways from a variety of materials. It will also be understood that the blade or wing may have an aerofoil cross-section and, it may be so designed that the part of maximum thickness is at or close to the leading edge so as to obviate the need for trimming weights. CLAIMS

1. Aflying model aircraft comprising a pair of blades or wings the centre of gravity of each of which blade or wing being adjacent one end, and each blade or wing being provided with coupling means adjacent said one end whereby the blades or wings forming the pair may be coupled together and launched and remain coupled together until the momentum resulting from the launch is substantially lost whereupon the two blades or wings separate and each rotates substantially about its own centre of gravity during descent.

3. A flying model aircraft as claimed in claim 2 wherein the location of the centre of gravity is determined by two masses, one being positioned adjacent said one end, the other being positioned along the leading edge of the blade or wing.

4. Aflying model aircraft as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mass positioned adjacent said one end is heavier than the mass positioned along the said leading edge.

5. A flying model aircraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one end is made ofthicker or denser material than the remainder of the blade or wing.

6. Aflying model aircraft as claimed in any of the preceding claims and provided with a hook whereby the aircraft may be launched by means of a catapult.

7. A flying model aircraft comprising a pair of blades or wings as claimed in any of the preceding claims and each blade or wing being provided with coupling means adjacent said one end whereby the blades or wings forming the pair may be coupled together and launched and remain coupled together until the momentum resulting from the launch is substantially lost whereupon the two blades or wings separate and each rotates substantially about its own centre of gravity during descent.

8. Aflying model aircraft as claimed in claim 7 wherein the coupling means coupling the two blades or wings together is provided by an interlocking formation formed by the said one ends.

9. Aflying model aircraft as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein one of said blade or wing includes a spring member which is deflected by the other said blade or wing when the two blades or wings are coupled together and assists the separation of the two blades or wings.

10. Aflying model aircraft as claimed in claims 7, 8 or 9 in which one or both of said blades or wings includes hook means whereby the aircraft may be launched by means of a catapult.

11. A flying model aircraft substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and

2.

12. A flying model aircraft substantially as de- scribed with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 20 Feb.1980 New or amended claims: New claim 1 Claims 1 to 7 deleted and appendancies corrected.