GB2270478A - Flying toy - Google Patents

Abstract

An aircraft design comprising of a fixed circular wing, 1, with a fuselage, 2, placed on the underside of the circular wing. Two wing shaped struts, 3 and 4, attached at the rear of the fuselage, angled in an upwardly direction, approximately 90 degrees from each other, both supporting a suitably streamlined boom, 5 and 6, at the end. This craft may be adapted to fly with the abilities similar to that of conventional aircraft. The craft may be powered by motors on or in the craft or by catapult or by other manually powered device. The wing and/or struts may have control surfaces (3, 4, 5 fig 2) similar to conventional aircraft. <IMAGE>

Description

UNORTHODOX FLYING CRAFT Technical Field This invention relates to an unorthodox flying craft previously viewed as fictional.

Background Conventional aircraft have taken shape in many forms using fixed wing and tailplane of various platforms. Most cornmon shapes have been rectangular, swept back and delta with varying cross sectional and wing surface areas. More recent approach to aircraft have wings which move to vary the angle of sweep and wings tilting on a horizontal axis to vary the angle of attack. Also craft using propulsion units so placed for vertical take off. All these forms have been tried and tested and are in use for various purposes. There is an invention which suggests the use of a ROTATING circular wing on aircraft. The suggestion is also that if the circular wing were FIXED and NOT rotating it would have such poor pitch stability that the circular wing could only be placed at the rear of the aircraft.This conclusion is not the finding in the following application.

Description The fictional craft in this application has not been used as a literal flying craft and only as a fictional object of space travel. Minor modifications may be made to the design, keeping the original appearance, so the craft may be adapted to fly.

The fictional craft is the 'U.S.S. STARSHIP ENTERPRISE'. This craft, first viewed to the general public in the 1960's in films and series for cinema and television, has to date taken form in three different designs all similar and based on the design of the first.

By taking the design and considering the basics of aerodynamics and principals of flight, it is possible to make a basic 'CHUCK' glider model which is able to fly as well as any chuck glider, conventional or otherwise.

Figure 1 shows the basic shape of the fictional craft. Figure 2 shows the chuck glider model which is very successful in flight in this form. The model may be made with more shape or 'realistic' as in figure 3. It is possible to vary the shape of the craft for varying types of flight as is possible with conventional craft. Powelse(l flight may be achieved using 'jest turbine' type engines in the form of ducted tan propulsion Writs for model aircraft.

These may be placed on the craft in varying positions, examples of which are indicated by 'P' in figures 4. 5, and 6. The ability to direct or control the flight of the craft is achieved in a similar way to that on conventional aircraft. Figure 2 shows the st.ruts, 1 and 2, to have ailerons, 3 and 4, which ny be used simultaneously to give rudder and elevator control. Aileron 5 is placed on the trailing edge of the circular wing and may be used to vary the flight of the craft as do ailerons on wings of conventional craft.

Ailerons or 'flaps' may he placed in various positions on the craft to give the desired affect on the ability of the craft in flight.

The modifications made to the shape of the fictional craft are in most areas quite minimal. However there is one area of design in which change is almost inevitable especially when considering non powered flight. i.e.

gliding. In figure 1, the booms, 1 and 2, are of a cylindrical shape and are fictionally used as engines giving motion to the craft. If these features were cylindrical on the flying model, the ability of the craft to glide would be reduced dramatically. The solution is to make the booms domed. That is to say that the booms are essentiaily flat but with convex upper and lower surfaces. A side view area is shown in figure 7. This improves the stability of the craft and allows it to glide with ease.

Another change which is not essential but is so designed to improve the structural durability of the model craft, is to combine the parts 3 and 4 shown in figure 1 to one part shown as part 2 in figure 3. Both part 4 in figure 1 and part 2 in figure 3 must be streamlined for best results. Other alterations are that part 5 and 6 in figure 1 are made wider from leading to trailing edges and are shaped as in the cross sectional view in figure 8.

It is possible for powered models to use conventional propeller motors with ease if suitably positioned, although ducted fan type motors will help retain the authenticity of the craft's fictional image.

Claims (6)

1. ased flying craft based on the fictional spacecraft the 'U.S.S. STARSHIP ENTERPRISE' . Comprising of a fixed circular wing at the front of the craft. A streamlined fuselage placed from the underside of the circular winy. Two struts placed at the rear of the fuselage, exiting the fuselage upwardly at an angle of approximately 90 degrees from each other, and both supporting a horizontally placed boom.
2. 2. A flying craft as in claim 1, wherein the fuselage is not direct]y attached to the fixed circular wing, hut is attached by way of a streamlined strut from the underside of the wing to the fuselage.
3. 3. A flying craft as in claims 1 and 2, wherein the craft is powered by conventional electric or combustible fuel powered motors mounted within or outside the craft.
4. 4. A flying craft as in claims 1 and 2, wherein the craft is designed in such a way in which motion is provided by a catapult, by throwing or by any other manually powered device.
5. 5. A flying craft substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-8 of the accompanying drawings on sheets 1/4 to 4/4.
6. 6. A flying craft as in claims 1, 2 ,3 ,4 and 5, wherein the craft is to be designed as a flying toy.