Airplane with pivotable wing

• US 4,158,448 A
• Filed: 12/01/1977
• Issued: 06/19/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsuji Mochizuki
• Original Assignee: Matsuji Mochizuki
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Matsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Frankfort, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US05/856,430
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 244/11, 244/13, 244/16, 244/38, 244/48, 244/49, 244/153 R, 244/154, 244/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 244/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 31/032 having delta shaped wing

Abstract

An airplane includes a wing having the configuration of an equilateral triangle and covered with a flexible membrane which is provided with free trailing edges. The wing is secured by pivot brackets to the top of supports placed at the center of gravity of the airplane body as to pivot right and left alternatively to obtain a self-balancing of flight like the action of a flying kite, such that it is safe and easy to control the airplane during takeoff, landing and sustained flight while increasing the lifting force.

Claims

1. A pivotal winged airplane comprising an airplane body, a pair of spaced wing support means secured fixedly to and extending upwardly from said airplane body, each of said wing support means comprising a generally inverted V-shaped support member extending upwardly from said airplane body, said inverted V-shaped support members being joined to one another in a generally V-shaped configuration, a wing comprising a wing frame and a sheet of flexible material secured to the wing frame, said wing frame including a longitudinally extending central keel means having a longitudinal axis generally bisecting the wing, said wing frame having the configuration of an equilateral triangle having an apex, said wing frame being disposed to have said apex located forwardly of the airplane body, said longitudinally extending keel means passing generally through said apex, said wing frame further comprising side frame support members extending rearwardly from said apex in a generally V-shaped configuration, said flexible sheet material being secured to said side frame support members and to said keel means and having a free trailing edge, said wing frame being provided with a pair of cross members, each of said cross members extending generally perpendicular to the axis of said central keel means from opposed sides thereof, a pair of brackets secured to opposite sides of said central keel means, each of said brackets having spaced parallel parts extending transversely of the axis of said central keel means, one of said parallel parts of each of said brackets having first pivot means for separately and independently supporting each of said cross members about parallel axes disposed on opposite sides of said keel means, each of said cross members having terminating end portions secured to said side frame support members, whereby each half of the wing frame on either side of said keel means is separately and independently pivotal about said spaced parallel axes, the other of said parallel parts of said brackets being disposed to engage the respective cross member to provide a stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of each cross member, second pivotal means on each of said wing support means for pivotably mounting said central keel means for rotation about a pivotal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said central keel means, said central keel means being supported by said second pivotal means in overlying relationship to the longitudinal axis of the airplane body, said second pivotal means on each of said wing support means being spaced from one another and defining a pivotal axis fixedly disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the airplane body, said sheet of flexible material being inflatable under flight conditions of the airplane, an engine driving a propeller on the forward part of said airplane body and a rudder and stabilizer at the rear part of said airplane body, said airplane being driven with a forward motion by said propeller and being controlled in flight by said propeller, said rudder and said stabilizer, said wing being free of controls and being freely pivotal about said first and second pivotal means under flight conditions such that aerodynamic forces on said wing freely pivot said wing.