Free wing flyer

• US 4,375,280 A
• Filed: 05/13/1977
• Issued: 03/01/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John D. Nicolaides
• Original Assignee: John D. Nicolaides
• Inventors: Nicolaides, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US05/796,801
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/3, 244/4, 244/5, 244/13, 244/16, 244/30, 244/31, 244/44, 244/48, 244/49, 244/142, 244/145, 244/DIG. 1, 244/138, 244/139, 244/146, 244/93
• US Class Current: 244/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 31/024 with auxiliary power plant
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 31/036 having parachute-type wing
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/02 Flying units formed by separate aircraft towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00

Abstract

A flying device capable of carrying man, which contains a wing, a fuselage, and means such as cables for attaching the wing to the fuselage so that the fuselage is suspended below the wing. The fuselage contains a propulsion unit and normally does not have wings for creating a lifting force as in ordinary aircraft.

Claims

1. A flying device comprising a fuselage, a wing having an upper layer and a lower layer spaced from said upper layer for producing substantially the sole lifting force of the device, a connection member, a means for attaching the wing to the connection member so that the wing is freely able to roll and yaw with respect to the connection member, a means whereby the angle of pitch between the wing and connection member may be held fixed or changed in flight, a pivot means for attaching the connection member to the fuselage such that the fuselage is freely able to pitch, yaw and roll with respect to the connection member, a means for moving the fuselage and the wing relative to one another in roll, pitch, yaw, surge, and swerve movements, a motor propulsion unit for propelling said fuselage and wing thhrough the air to lift, drive and maneuver said flyer, and a means whereby buoyant dynamic flight is achieved in air or underwater, consisting of inflation of the wing, said resulting buoyancy providing velocity which in turn provides dynamic lift on the wing and thus buoyant dynamic flight, positive or negative.

2. A flying device as defined in claim 1 in which said attachment means between the wing and the connection member consists of a 3-D bearing, permitting angular freedom in roll and yaw.

3. A flying device as defined in claim 1 in which said attachment means between the wing and the connection member consists of a 3-D bearing having constraint and control in pitch.

4. A flying device as defined in claim 1 in which a means whereby the device is controlled by the mass of the fuselage, is included for controlling of the forward and aft movement of the flyer system center of gravity to achieve pitch up or pitch down, including transverse movement of the center of gravity to achieve right turn or left turn.

5. A flying device as defined in claim 1 in which a means whereby the device is controlled by the propulsion line of action in the fuselage, is included for controlling tilting the thrust line up or down to achieve climb or sink, including tilting the thrust line left or right to achieve right or left turn.

6. A flying device as defined in claim 1 in which the device has two suspension points on the fuselage and a means controls the movement of both suspension points up or down to achieve pitch up or pitch down.

7. A flying device as defined in claim 1 in which a means whereby the wing may be self erecting is included, consisting in using an external pressure source, using the natural negative aerodynamic pressure on the top of the wing, and the natural positive aerodynamic pressures at the front and/or the bottom of the wing.