Multi-Environment Engine

• US 20080203216A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aeroart
• Original Assignee: Aeroart Societe PAR Actions Simplifiee
• Inventors: Dumitru, Alexandru, Proponet, Jean-Guylain, Apeloig, Julien, Tiarks, Sebastio, Grizel, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/917,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 35/003 using auxiliary floats at the wing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft

Abstract

The inventive multi-environment engine (1) comprises a body (2), wings (4, 5) and a propulsion system (8), wherein at least one wing is foldable between a first levitation flying position, a second levitation position for travelling on a water surface and a third diving position.

Claims

1. Multi-environment missile (1), comprising a body (2), wings (4, 5) and a propulsion system (3), characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one foldable wing between a first lift position for flight, a second lift position for operating on the surface of the water, and a third submerged position.

2. Missile according to claim 1, wherein the foldable wing comprises at least one joint (18) around an axis that is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereby said joint is active between at least one of said three positions and another of said three positions.

3. Missile according to claim 2, wherein the foldable wing comprises two joints (18, 19) around axes that are approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.

4. Missile according to claim 1, wherein in the first lift position for flight, the wing has a part that is close to the body and end slats (17) that extend upward, whereby the close part of the body is approximately horizontal.

5. Missile according to claim 4, wherein the end slats form stabilizers in the third submerged position.

6. Missile according to claim 4, wherein the end slats are part of the hydroplane skids in the second lift position.

7. Missile according to claim 6, wherein an end zone (16) of said close part of the body is also part of the hydroplane skids in the second lift position.

8. Missile according to claim 1, wherein, in the second lift position for operating on the surface of the water, the wing has a V shape in a vertical plane for forming a hydroplane skid.

9. Missile according to claim 8 that also comprises a retractable hydroplane skid (21).

10. Missile according to claim 1, wherein in the third submerged position, the wing has two parts that are folded against one another.

11. Missile according to claim 1, wherein the wing has a cutaway profile along a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the missile that tends to make said missile slip during its submerged travel.

12. Missile according to claim 1, wherein in the third submerged position, the propulsion system (8) comprises a propeller (9) that can propel said missile into flight, on the surface of the water and submerged.

13. Missile according to claim 12, wherein the propulsion system comprises a streamlined propeller.

14. Missile according to claim 12, wherein the propulsion system comprises movable flaps between an aerial propulsion position and an aquatic propulsion position.

15. Missile according to claim 14, wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one movable flap that can block a lower intake and comprises at least one movable flap that can block an upper intake.

19. Missile according to claim 5, wherein the end slats are part of the hydroplane skids in the second lift position.

20. Missile according to claim 13, wherein the propulsion system comprises movable flaps between an aerial propulsion position and an aquatic propulsion position.

16. Process for travel of a multi-environment missile that is provided with a body, wings and a propulsion system, in which a first lift position for flight, a second lift position for operating on the surface of the water and a third submerged position are imparted to at least one foldable wing.

17. Process according to claim 16, wherein the same propulsion system is active in flight, on the surface of the water, and submerged.

18. Process according to claim 16, wherein the foldable wing is deployed for flight and folded for submersion.