CRAFT AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING CRAFT WITH CONTROLLED SPIN

• US 20120068021A1
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesir, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aesir, Ltd.
• Inventors: BABINSKY, Holger, MCINTOSH, Simon, WHITCHER, Lee, POTTER, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 9,162,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/23.R
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/42 with independent propulsion or direction control
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/16 by direct use of propellers or jets
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2011/002 using Coanda effect, i.e. the tendency of fluid jets to be attracted to nearby surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/064 with radial airflow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

This invention relates to a craft designed to move through or on a surface of a fluid. It is believed to be principally of use in relation to airborne craft and missiles but the theory behind the invention is equally applicable for example to submarines.

Claims

1. A coanda craft comprising an impeller for generating a jet of fluid and mean for causing the jet to flow over a lift producing surface being shaped and positioned so as to cause diversion of the jet from a radial towards an axial direction, the craft comprising an aerofoil control surface and means for adjusting the latter to prevent or control spin of the vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the aerofoil control surface is located upstream of the lift producing surface and that an upstream portion of the aerofoil control surface is angled away from a radial direction towards or inline with or beyond the direction of flow of fluid emanating from the impeller.

2. A craft according to claim 1 wherein the geometry of the aerofoil control surface can be altered.

3. A craft according to claim 2 wherein the aerofoil control surface comprises a vane having a hinged portion hinged to a downstream edge of a stator portion of the vane.

4. A craft according to claim 3 comprising a shroud which extends circumferentially about the impeller so as to define a duct within which the impeller resides

5. A craft according to claim 4 wherein the shroud is supported upon a canopy defining the curved surface and that the aerofoil control surface is located between the shroud and the canopy.

6. A craft according to claim 5 wherein the aerofoil control surface performs the function of a strut to support the shroud to the canopy.

7. A craft according to claim 4 wherein the impeller is arranged to draw fluid from above the curved surface.

8. A craft according to claim 1 comprising multiple aerofoil control surfaces arranged circumferentially about the impeller.

9. A craft according claim 1 wherein the upstream portion of the aerofoil control surface is angled to be substantially aligned with the direction of the air approaching it at the normal operating conditions of the rotor.

10. A craft according to claim 9 wherein the upstream portion of the aerofoil control surface is angled between 10°

and 25°

from the radial direction.

11. A craft according to claim 10 wherein the upstream portion of the aerofoil control surface is angled between 15°

and 21°

from the radial direction.

12. A craft according to claim 3 wherein the craft comprises multiple vanes, each vane having a hinged portion hinged to a downstream edge of a stator portion of the vane;

and an actuating system to rotate multiple hinged portions about their respective hinges, the actuating system comprising an actuator, belt engagement means associated with each hinged portion and a belt running between the actuator and the belt engagement means.

13. A craft according to claim 12 wherein the vanes are divided into at least two sets and the actuating system comprises a first belt running between belt engagement means of hinged portions of a first set of vanes and a second belt running between belt engagement means of hinged portions of a second set of vanes.

14. A craft according to claim 13 wherein the vanes of the first and second sets of vanes are arranged alternately around the canopy.

15. A craft according to claim 4 wherein the craft comprises multiple vanes each having a hinged portion hinged to a downstream edge of a stator portion of the vane, and an actuating system to rotate the multiple hinged portions about their respective hinges, the actuating system being housed substantially within the shroud.

16. A method of effecting pitch or roll of a Coanda craft having an impeller for generating a jet of fluid and means for causing it to flow over a curved surface, the curved surface being shaped and positioned so as to cause diversion of the jet from a radial towards an axial direction thereby producing lift, the craft comprising a plurality an aerofoil control surfaces spaced circumferentially around the impeller and means for adjusting the latter to prevent or control spin of the vehicle, wherein means is also provided to control said aerofoil control surfaces so as to preferentially direct flow over one portion of the curved surface as compared with an opposite portion thereby causing the craft to pitch or roll.

17. A method of assembling a Coanda craft, the method comprising:

providing a canopy defining a lift producing surface being shaped and positioned so as to cause diversion of a jet of fluid from a radial towards an axial direction; and

providing a cassette comprising two or more aerofoil control surfaces supported onto a supporting member; and

securing the cassette to the canopy.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the cassette comprises two or more aerofoil control surfaces interposed between two coaxial supporting members.

19. A method according to claim 17 in which the canopy defines a circumferential recess and that the supporting member is located within the recess.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein a shroud defining a recess for housing a supporting member is provided, and in which the cassette is interposed between the shroud and the canopy.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein the aerofoil control surfaces and supporting member are formed as a single integral piece.