GB480750A - Improvements in aircraft of the cyclogyro type - Google Patents

Abstract

480,750. Cyclogyros. WALTON, G. W. Aug. 26, 1936, No. 23459. [Class 4] In a cyclogyro which includes a port and a starboard rotor each of the type comprising a rotatable vane carrier having mounted thereon a plurality of vanes distributed around the rotor axis and movable respectively about axes parallel or nearly parallel to the rotor axis, the vanes being drivably connected to the carrier by gearing which constrains them, during rotation of the rotor, to move in such manner and with such phase displacement relative to each other that, when the rotor is rotated and at the same time translated, relatively to the air, normally to its axis at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of the vane axes, each vane is maintained, during the whole or substantially the whole of its orbit, at a constant or substantially constant angle of attack to the resultant air-stream, the gearing includes an adjustable element for varying the phase of the vanes, the phases of the rotors being adjustable differentially and the rotors are capable of rotation independently of each other under the influence of the air-stream due to translation of the aircraft. The rotors may be driven through free-wheel clutches and the translation may be that obtaining in gliding flight or be due e.g. to the power derived from an airscrew. Two rotors may be employed in which case usual tail surfaces are provided, alternatively these surfaces may be replaced by two further rotors. As shown, the carrier comprises end rings 20, 21 joined by tubular members 22 on which the vanes rotate. The ring 20 is integral with a disc 20<1> fixed to a hollow driving shaft 25. The vanes are controlled through a planetary bevel or spur gearing from a shaft 27 and comprising a carrier 29 connected by an eccentric pin 31 to an eccentric disc 32 engaging eccentrices 33 fixed on the vanes. The ring 20 is engaged by rollers 36, 37 journalled in brackets secured to the fuselage. The members 22 may carry the vanes in which case the members are journalled in the ring and turn on spigots carried by the ring 21 and the drive is transmitted through a shaft concentric and within the shaft 27. When four rotors are employed these may be driven from prime-movers 70 through a clutch 79 operable to give a direct or reduced drive, a shaft 50, bevel gears, 68, 67, differential gear D, shafts 50s, 50p, bevel wheels 63p, 62, 63s and shafts 58a, 58f including differential gears Dp, Ds and provided with brakes 52 which may be differentially controlled. The phase adjustment of the rotors may be controlled from a universally mounted joystick through cables which may be operated for simultaneous control of all the rotors. The cables may be further controlled by an automatic pilot. The vanes may be of reflex curvature and have a symmetrical cross-section and they may be governed by crank-arms guided in a cam ring.