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Ornithopter having a wing structure and a mechanism for imparting realistic, bird-like motion thereto

  • US 7,607,610 B1
  • Filed: 04/23/2007
  • Issued: 10/27/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A mechanism for imparting flapping motion to a wing, comprising:

  • a) a wing;

    b) a main drive mechanism for imparting upward and downward flapping motion to said wing, said flapping motion comprising a flap stroke having an upper extremity and a lower extremity and comprising;

    i) a main drive shaft having an outboard, distal end;

    ii) at least one motor operatively connected to said main drive shaft and adapted to impart rotary motion thereto;

    iii) a universal joint having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said universal joint being operatively attached to said distal end of said main drive shaft;

    iv) a gimbal block surrounding said universal joint;

    v) a shaft director hingedly affixed to a proximal end of said wing, said shaft director being pivotally affixed to said gimbal block;

    vi) an inner crank having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being operatively connected to said distal end of said universal joint; and

    vii) a first scotch yoke interactive with said inner crank and operatively attached to said wing;

    c) a center angle drive mechanism for modifying a dihedral angle of said wing relative to a longitudinal axis thereof, said dihedral angle being a midpoint between said upper extremity and said lower extremity of said flap stroke; and

    d) a balance drive mechanism for modifying a fore/aft direction of said wing.

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