GB2560493A

GB2560493A - A vehicle having verticle take-off (VTO)means

Info

Publication number: GB2560493A
Application number: GB1701670.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morant Harding Stephen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-02-01
Filing date: 2017-02-01
Publication date: 2018-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-01
Also published as: GB201701670D0; GB2560493B

Abstract

An aircraft 1 comprises a fuselage 3 and wings 10 and has a plurality of cylinders 2 which are used to create vertical lift using the Magnus effect. An airflow is provided in a direction that is orthogonal to the surface of the cylinders by means of fans with fan inlet ports 5. Electric motors rotate the cylinders to cause an airflow to be accelerated over the upper surface of the cylinders to create lift using the Magnus effect. A curtain of air 7 may be produced at the ends of the cylinders. A propeller 4 may supplement lift when operating to provide thrust in a vertical direction and may provide forward propulsion when delivering thrust in horizontal direction. The wings 10 are able to produce lift when the aircraft has forward speed.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A vehicle having verticle take-off (VTO)means Abstract Title: Aircraft using Magnus effect for vertical take-off (57) An aircraft 1 comprises a fuselage 3 and wings 10 and has a plurality of cylinders 2 which are used to create vertical lift using the Magnus effect. An airflow is provided in a direction that is orthogonal to the surface of the cylinders by means of fans with fan inlet ports 5. Electric motors rotate the cylinders to cause an airflow to be accelerated over the upper surface of the cylinders to create lift using the Magnus effect. A curtain of air 7 may be produced at the ends of the cylinders. A propeller 4 may supplement lift when operating to provide thrust in a vertical direction and may provide forward propulsion when delivering thrust in horizontal direction. The wings 10 are able to produce lift when the aircraft has forward speed.

•%·»·· ·* · • ·

1/3

FIG. 1

2/3 • ·· ·*···· ·· · • ·

• · · · • * · · * · · • · · • · · · • ·

FIG. 2

3/3 • · · • · · • ·· *

·*···· ·· · • · • · ··· ·

• · • ♦ · · * · · • ·· ··*···· » ·

FIG. 4

A VEHICLE HAVING VERTICAL TAKE-OFF (VTO) MEANS

This invention relates to a vehicle having vertical take-off (VTO) means.

It has long been known that spinning cylinders in winds can produce high lift forces due to what is known as the Magnus effect. Vehicles in the form of aircraft have flown with spinning cylinders instead of wings. Normally such cylinders are located with their long axes at right angles to the direction of travel. This arrangement can create unacceptable drag. High gyroscopic forces can create vehicle instability. Also, if the spinning stops, the lift due to the spinning motion is lost. With the known vehicles, other problems include those of vibration and excessive weight.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome the above issues and facilitate vertical take-off of a vehicle.

• · · • · ·

Accordingly, in one ηοη-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a vehicle having vertical take-off means, and characterised in that the vertical take-off means comprises:

(i) a plurality of cylinders which are hollow, which are rotatable, and which are configured to exploit the Magnus effect in order to

Obtain vertical lift without forward movement;

(ii) air-delivery means for delivering air orthogonally to the cylinders;

and the apparatus being Such that:

(iii) at least two of the cylinders are located parallel to the intended direction of forward travel of the vehicle.

The vehicle may be an aircraft. The aircraft may be an aircraft with wings. The wings may be fixed or foldable. The aircraft may be a wide variety of shapes and sizes as is the case for known aircraft. The vehicle may alternatively be a hybrid type of vehicle which is constructed for moving along the ground, and which also has a flight capability.

The vehicle may be one in which the cylinders have end flanges, and in which the end flanges rotate with the cylinders, thereby to reduce Sideways air • ·· losses.

• · · • ·· ·;···· The vehicle may include non-rotating high-pressure air curtains which •; · · can be activated to minimise lateral air flow losses.

• · · · ··· The vehicle may include non-rotating streamlined parts abutting the ; ends of the cylinders acting like non-rotating flanges for minimising lateral air • · · ·:···: flow losses during cylinder rotation but allowing air to pass through during noncylinder rotation.

The aircraft may be one in which the cylinders have patterns of holes in their outer peripheries, and in which the holes allow air jets to act through the holes to control lateral air flows over the cylinders and at their ends.

Typically, the cylinders have a circular cross section. The cylinders may have other suitable and appropriate cross-sectional shapes. Typically the cylinders will be complete cylinders in cross-section. However, if desired, some or all of the cylinders may have an interrupted surface so that, for example, these cylinders may have one or more slots along their length or a plurality of apertures and/or radial grooves along their length.

The cylinders may comprise frames supporting a plurality of hinged aerofoils or flexible parts able to nest to form a circular cross-section.

The cylinders may be mounted in bearings. The bearings may be mounted in folding arms. The bearings may be mounted elsewhere if desired.

The vehicle may include at least one electric motor for rotating one or more of the cylinders.

Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle may include at least one power source, for example a compressed air motor, for rotating one or more of the

·.··. cylinders.

• · · ;···· Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle may include power take-off ···· means for enabling one or more of the cylinders to be rotated mechanically • · · ··· from an engine.

• ·. : The vehicle may include forward propulsion means for the vehicle.

• · · ;···: The forward propulsion means may be housed in the cylinders. The forward propulsion means may be housed elsewhere if desired. The forward propulsion means may be configured also to rotate one or more of the cylinders.

The vehicle may include fixed wings. Alternatively, the vehicle may have folding wings.

Some or all of the cylinders may have trailing aerofoils. Additionally or alternatively, some or all of the cylinders may have upstream aerofoils or fairings which are positioned in front of the cylinder ends and/or alongside the cylinders to smooth out the airflows.

The vehicle may include a compartment for receiving passengers and/or payload, and in this case airflows over the vehicle’s external shape may contribute lift to the vehicle in forward motion, vertical motion, or when stationary.

The compartment may have a leading edge, and there may be at least one cylinder at the leading edge of the compartment. The compartment may be a compartment which is centralised laterally.

The vehicle may be one in which the cylinders are configured to be in sections, and in which at least one of the sections is able to be rotated at different speeds to others of the cylinders, or not at all.

The aircraft may have a plurality of wings. In this case, the cylinders may work with the wings at positions other than leading and trailing edges of the wings.

The vehicle may be one in which parallel rotating parts are connected by belts and/or are geared together.

The vehicle may be one in which the cylinders are rotatable at different speeds, whereby stability of the vehicle in the air is controllable by the cylinders spinning at different speeds.

The orthogonal air flows to the cylinders may be directed away from a central fuselage of the vehicle, and towards the cylinders. Alternatively, orthogonal air flows may be directed towards the cylinders in a direction from outside the cylinders in the direction of the fuselage.

The cylinders may be such that they are able to be swivelled or pivoted up to 90°.

The vehicle may include blowers for generating the orthogonal air flows. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle may include propeller fans for generating the orthogonal air flows. The fans may have inlets and outlets displaced by up to 90° in any plane, for example horizontally or vertically.

The vehicle may be one which includes shields for shielding all or parts of the cylinders, and in which the shields are positioned at points around the circumferences of the cylinders.

The cylinders may be able to be exposed to additional air flows of •' ··. different intensities from different directions.

• · · ;···· The vehicle may include a jet engine, and in this case the output from •; · · the jet engine may be split on demand and channelled to provide the orthogonal • · · ··· air flows for the cylinders or for jet engine propulsion.

··. : The air flows engaging the cylinders may be channelled through ducts • · ·

J···; which may be inside or outside a central part of the vehicle.

The vehicle may include an on-board generator for providing power directly to electric motors and/or to re-charge electrical storage devices, The vehicle may include a re-chargeable battery or electricity storage device to fulfil all or part of the power requirements of the vehicle.

The vehicle may include a fuel cell for providing power directly to electric motors of the vehicle and/or to re-charge electrical storage devices of the vehicle.

The vehicle may use any appropriate power sources or combination of power sources.

The vehicle may include propulsion means for ground travel.

The vehicle may be a manned vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle may be an aircraft. The vehicle may be able to fly without a helicopter’s precession issues and thus potentially faster than a helicopter with just main and tail rotors.

The vehicle may include hinged parts, for example hinged wings, that enable the vehicle to be stored in a domestic garage.

The vehicle of the present invention is able to overcome the afore. · mentioned issues with known vehicles such as aircraft, and it is able to facilitate • · • · ···· vertical take-off of a vehicle by including a plurality of the cylinders located with •; ·· their long axes parallel to the direction of travel, and able to be rotated or spun • · ··· as required. The cylinders may be closed or open-ended cylinders. The open·. : ended cylinders may be tubes. Lift is generated when the rotational surface • · ···; speeds are higher than that of natural or forced air flows blowing orthogonally towards their main axes.

The cylinders may be such that they rotate about their own axes but in different directions either side of the vehicle, for example either side of an aircraft fuselage, and with each cylinder experiencing similar orthogonal air flows away from or towards the fuselage, are able to produce strong vertical lift components. Opposing horizontal force components will normally balance each other out. Thus the present invention is able to provide for vertical takeoff without forward movement and to offer advantages over the use of vertical thrust engines or fans/propellers in fixed or tilting wings. Also, since the cylinders do not need to rotate or spin fast during forward flight, the cylinders will not then create gyroscopic forces. Further, being parallel to the fuselage, the cylinders will only have small exposed frontal areas which will generate only minimal drag. Further, the cylinders may be located or stored adjacent the fuselage to reduce the overall vehicle width on the ground.

The vehicle may be one which includes additional cylinders which are rotatable and which are not positioned parallel to the direction of travel. If the vehicle is a vehicle having fixed wings, then the additional cylinders may be positioned at leading edges and/or trailing edges of the fixed wings and/or in . ,. between.

• · · • · o

....ο. An embodiment of the invention will now be described Solely by way of

.... example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• J. Figure 1 illustrates how a cylinder rotating with a surface speed faster . than the incoming wind speed can generate a lift component, this being known ·;···« as the Magnus effect;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a vehicle in the form of an aircraft;

Figure 3 is a front view of the aircraft as shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a side view of the aircraft as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown airflow 10 over a rotatable cylinder

22. The cylinder 22 is hollow. The Cylinder 22 is rotatable. Rotation of the cylinder 22 is clockwise as indicated by the arrows inside the cylinder 22. When the surface rotational speed of the cylinder 22 is higher than an incoming horizontal airflow 20 directed towards the cylinder 22, the airflow over the top half of the cylinder 22 is speeded up and that over the lower half reduced. A powerful vertical force is created in the direction indicated by the arrow 24. This is known as the Magnus effect. An aerofoil also produces lift from pressure differences. The vertical lift provided by the Magnus effect is indicated by the arrow 24. Turbulent airflow is indicated by arrows 26. The strength of the Magnus effect lift reflects key relationships between airflow speeds and rotating cylinder surface speeds.

Whilst Figure 1 illustrates the basic principle of operation of the Magnus effect, a spinning cylinder such as that shown as the cylinder 22 can cause unacceptable drag and unacceptable gyroscopic forces. In the present . ,. invention as now described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the • <* » r * unacceptable drag and gyroscopic forces are able to be minimised whilst still exploiting the Magnus effect as illustrated in Figure 1, and thereby for vertical ··« • ·*» take-off to generate the lift that is required. For forward flight, the vehicle may ··. ♦ have wings, and exposure to cylinder drag will be primarily at the two front • 4 · ;···· ends. Thus vertical take-off without any forward vehicle movement is able to be effected using a plurality of hollow cylinders, and riot using vertical· thrust jets or vertical thrusters for vertical take-off.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, there is shown an aircraft 1 having two cylinders 2. The cylinders 2 are hollow. The cylinders 2 are rotatable. There is one of the cylinders 2 on either side of the fuselage 3 of the aircraft 1. The aircraft 1 has a propeller 4 that can operate in a horizontal plane (as shown) to produce lift, or provide forward propulsion when operating in a vertical plane.

The aircraft 1 has electric fans (not shown) that deliver air flows towards the cylinders 2 to generate the Magnus effect for vertical take-off.

The aircraft 1 has fan inlet ports 5. The fans send their output through ducting 6, to route their airflows to each cylinder 2 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 2 whereby the cylinders 2 are able to exploit the Magnus effect. The cylinders 2 are located parallel to the intended direction of forward travel of the aircraft.

Electric motors (not Shown) rotate the cylinders 2 and cause them to spin at the required rate. Where the cylinders end, curtains of air jets 9 are employed to minimise the orthogonal airflows drifting off laterally. Wings 10 * .·_β generate enough lift in normal flight without the cylinders 2 spinning. An on• ·· ·····» board battery or generator (not shown) provides electric power.

···· The aircraft 1 has a set of holes 7 to allow for the provision of an air

T ··· i· curtain. This air curtain can then be switched on when needed for VTO, and it ·· · can be switched off for forward travel of the aircraft 1.

• ·* a

• 3

The vehicle 1 operates such that:

(a) air is speeded-up over the upper half of each cylinder 2, when each is spinning at a same-direction surface speed higher than the airflow directed orthogonally at it (conversely over the lower half); and (b) the spinning axis of each cylinder 2 is located parallel to the direction of travel of the aircraft 1.

Choices for generating the required orthogonal airflow for other embodiments are;

(i) activating flaps positioned in a duct carrying the airflow generated by a jet engine to deflect it 90° sideways to the cylinders from its normal straight path from engine outlet to atmosphere;

(ii) using ah electrical compressor located in an equivalent duct with similar deflection flaps;

(iii) prior to compression, the incoming airflow may be influenced by fuselage/body shape and/or wing shape or fixtures on it.

The cylinders 2 are able to be rotated by an electric motor for convenience. Each cylinder 2 may share the same axis as an engine, for doubling up as a generator for a compressor, and mounted downstream of the engine.

In one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle may have a jet engine with the output of the jet engine providing an air stream which is deflectable to co-operate with the Cylinders 2 spun by power sources such for example as electric motors. The cylinders 2 will normally be arranged to be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the power source.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, the vehicle may use an electric motor, for example normally driving a propeller, and wherein the electric motor doubles up as a generator for vertical take-off to Supply electricity for:

(a) a compressor to generate the orthogonal airflows over the Cylinders; and (b) separate motors to spin the cylinders.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vehicle may utilise one motor in one cylinder to spin the cylinder on demand, as well as acting as a compressor for the orthogonal airflow.

·· • ·

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described • · above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of • · ·· example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus the aircraft may be • · · of a shape other than that shown. The cylinders may be cylinders of various • · · • · • · · . sizes. The aircraft may alternatively be a vehicle having ground propulsion means, with a facility for vertical take-off. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle having vertical take-off means, and characterised in that the vertical take-off means comprises:

(i) a plurality of cylinders which are hollow, which are rotatable, and which are configured to exploit the Magnus effect in order to obtain vertical lift without forward movement;

(ii) air-delivery means for delivering air orthogonally to the cylinders;

and the apparatus being such that:

• · ’*! (iii) at least two of the cylinders are located parallel to the intended !*’ direction of forward travel of the vehicle.

• ·

·.·

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which the cylinders have end flanges, ’*’· and in which the end flanges rotate with the cylinders, thereby to reduce sideways air losses.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 and including non-rotating highpressure air curtains which can be activated to minimise lateral air flow losses.

4. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including non-rotating streamlined parts abutting the ends of the cylinders acting like non13 rotating flanges for minimising lateral airflow losses during cylinder rotation but allowing air to pass through during non-cylinder rotation.

5. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cylinders have patterns of holes at their outer peripheries, and in which the holes allow air jets to act through the holes to control lateral air flows over the cylinders and at their ends.

6. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which each one of the cylinders has a circular cross-section.

·· • · ··

7. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the • · · · ’* cylinders are closed or open-ended cylinders.

• · · ' · · • ·

Id· .

8. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the » · cylinders are mounted in bearings.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8 in which the bearings are mounted in folding arms.

10. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including at least one electric motor for rotating a cylinder.

11. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including at least one power source for cylinder rotating.

12. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including power take-off means for enabling the cylinders to be rotated mechanically from an engine.

I

13. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including forward propulsion means for the vehicle.

• · · • · ·

14. A vehicle according to claim 13 in which the forward propulsion means • · is housed in the cylinders.

• · · · • · · · • · ·

15. A Vehicle according to claim 13 or claim 14 in which the forward • · · • · · • · · • propulsion means is configured to also rotate the cylinders.

• ·

16. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including fixed wings.

17. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and in which all or some of the cylinders have trailing aerofoils.

18. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which all or some of the cylinders have upstream aerofoils or fairings which are positioned in front of the cylinder ends and/or alongside the cylinders to smooth out the airflows.

19. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including a compartment for receiving passengers and/or payload, and in which airflows over the vehicle’s external shape contribute lift to the vehicle in forward motion, vertical motion, or when stationary.

20. A vehicle according to claim 19 in which the compartment has a leading edge, and in which there is at least one of the cylinder at the leading edge of • ·· • · ’ the compartment.

··« ···

21. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cylinders are configured to be in sections, and in which at least one of the sections is rotatable at different speeds to others of the cylinders, or not at all.

22. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the aircraft has a plurality of wings.

23. A vehicle according to claim 22 in which the cylinders work with the wings at positions other than at leading and trailing edges of the wings.

24. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which parallel connecting parts are connected by belts.

25. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which rotating parts are geared together.

26. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claim in which the cylinders are rotated at different speeds whereby stability of the vehicle is controllable by the cylinders spinning at different speeds.

27. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the orthogonal airflows are able to be directed away from a central fuselage of the vehicle and towards the cylinders.

• ·· > · · • ·· • · '

28. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 - 26 in which the orthogonal ·· · · airflows are directed towards the cylinders in a direction from outside the cylinders in the direction of the centreline of the aircraft.

• · · • · · • ·

29. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cylinders are able to be swivelled or pivoted up to 90°.

30. A vehicle according to any One of the preceding claims and including blowers for generating suitable airflows.

31. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including propeller fans for generating the orthogonal airflows.

···

32. A vehicle according to claim 31 in which the fans have inlets and outlets displaced by up to 90° in any plane.

33. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding Claims and including shields for shielding all or parts of the cylinders, and in which the shields are positioned at points around the circumference of the cylinders.

34. A vehicle according to arty one of the preceding claims in which the cylinders are able to be exposed to additional airflows of different intensities from different directions.

·· • · ··

35. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including a • · · ·

I jet engine, and in which the output from the jet engine is split on demand and • · · channelled to provide the orthogonal airflows for the cylinders.

• · • · ft ·

36. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the airflows engaging the cylinders are channelled through ducts which are inside or outside a central part of the vehicle.

37. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including an on-board generating for providing power directly to electric motors and/or to recharge electrical storage devices.

38. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including a re-chargeable battery or electricity storage device to fulfil all or part of the power requirements of the vehicle.

39. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including a fuel cell for providing power directly to electric motors of the vehicle and/or to re-charge electrical storage devices of the vehicle.

40. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and which uses any appropriate power sources or combination of power sources.

• ·· » · * • · · « ·

41. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including • « *· propulsion means for ground travel.

»« ·

9 · · • · ·

42. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and which is a • * manned vehicle.

43. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and which is an autonomous vehicle.

44. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and which is an aircraft.

45. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and in which the vehicle is able to fly without a helicopter’s precession issues and thus potentially faster than a helicopter with just main and tail rotors.

46. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including hinged parts that enable the vehicle to be stored in a domestic garage.

47. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cylinders are closed or open-ended cylinders.

• ·* ► · · *,

48. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including >····· ♦ * additional cylinders which are rotatable and which are not positioned parallel to ··»« the direction of travel.

«·* • 4 · •

49. A vehicle according to claim 48 in which the vehicle has fixed wings, and • *» in which the additional cylinders are positioned at leading edges and/or trailing edges of the fixed wings and/or in between.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1701670.0 Examiner: Mr Hal Young