Flying device with improved movement on the ground

• US 7,959,104 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Julian Kuntz
• Original Assignee: Julian Kuntz
• Inventors: Kuntz, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener; Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'HARA, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US11/722,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1.R, 244/2, 244/17.23, 244/17.25, 244/23.A, 244/23.B, 244/23.D, 244/23.R, 244/12.4, 244/12.5, 244/50, 244/51, 446/34, 446/36, 446/37, 446/55, 446/58, 446/457, 446/462, 446/465, 446/470
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/00 Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; convertible into other toys A63H33/003; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/001 Shrouded propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0033 the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/70 Convertible aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/70 Movable wings, rotor supports or shrouds acting as ground-engaging elements

Abstract

The invention relates to a flying device which can efficiently move in the air by aerodynamic forces and by direct force transmission on the ground, without the need for independent drive and thrust generation systems for the two modes of movement. The rotors (1) of the flying device are provided on the outside thereof with an annular rotating covering (4), connected directly to the rotor blade tips, which, when the flying device is on the ground and the rotor rotational axes (2) are correspondingly pitched about an axis (3), come into contact with the ground. The covering (4) hence permits a movement of the flying device on the ground by rolling, which is based on a direct force transfer to the ground. A further rotor pitching axis (5) permits the flying device to be controlled in the air and on the ground by means of the same actuator system. The above flying principle permits, for example, remote controlled reconnaissance drones for close or remote espionage, to independently enter inaccessible regions, or in the context of police or military application in buildings presenting danger for personnel, to gain access to upper floors.

Claims

1. A flying device capable of movement on the ground, the flying device comprising:

a central body having a longitudinal axis;

three or more rotors for providing at least some lift during take-off and landing of the flying device and thrust in intermediate flight-regimes, each rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and having a rotational axis corresponding to the rotation of the rotor blades, each rotor being configured to tilt relative to the longitudinal axis between a ground position for movement on the ground such that the rotational axis is substantially parallel to the ground and a take-off flight position such that the rotational axis is substantially normal to the ground during take off;

an annular covering for each rotor, the annular covering being connected to tips of at least some of the rotor blades and rotating therewith, the annular covering of at least one of the at least three rotors contacting the ground during ground operation, the rotational axes being tilted relative to the take-off flight position for movement across the ground, the annular covering further acting as a wheel cover to which torque is applied by the plurality of rotor blades; and

an undercarriage connected to the central body, the undercarriage having an extended state for taking the impact of landing, and supporting the flying device in a stable position on the ground, when in said extended state the undercarriage raises the flying device to prevent the annular coverings from contacting the ground prior to take-off and permits the rotational axes to be tilted so as to become substantially normal to the ground thereby enabling the rotor blades to generate lift, and the undercarriage having a retracted state such that the undercarriage is relatively ineffective when the flying device moves on the ground and during flight and the undercarriage does not touch the ground when the flying device moves on the ground.

2. The flying device of claim 1 including a first axis oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second axis being oriented generally transverse relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotor blades in a rotor define an orbital plane and the orbital plane can be tilted about either or both of the first axis and the second axis.

3. The flying device of claim 1 wherein when at least one rotor is tilted about the first axis, the rotor moves from the take-off flight position to a position for movement on the ground, and when the at least one rotor is tilted about the second axis, steering of the flying device both in the air and on the ground is effected by the at least one rotor.

4. The flying device of claim 1 further comprising supports having a damped suspension, the supports acting as an undercarriage, taking the impact of landing, and supporting the flying device in a stable position on the ground, the supports being configured to be retracted and extended such that when the supports are retracted the supports do not touch the ground when the flying device moves on the ground and when in the extended state the supports raise the flying device to prevent the annular coverings from contacting the ground.

5. The flying device of claim 1 further comprising at least one arm connected to the central body, each arm hingedly connecting the central body to each respective rotor.

6. The flying device of claim 2 further comprising at least one arm connected to the central body, each arm including an outer part connected to the rotors and an inner part connected to the central body, wherein each outer part can be rotated relative to the corresponding inner part to allow each rotor to be tilted independently of other rotors about the respective first axis and second axis.

7. The flying device of claim 1 further comprising at least one arm hingedly connecting the central body to each respective rotor, wherein each axis of rotation can be vertically aligned relative to the ground and each rotor is configured to enable a vertical take-off, a hovering flight, and a controlled vertical landing.

8. The flying device of claim 1 wherein each rotor blade has a pitch, the pitch being adjustable.

9. The flying device of claim 1 further comprising a motor corresponding to each of the rotors, each motor being configured to drive the corresponding rotor and being configured to be independently controlled.

10. The flying device of claim 1 wherein each of the rotors is directly attached to a corresponding motor axis and the motors are brushless electric motors.

11. The flying device of claim 9 further comprising an energy supply comprising one of lithium-polymer accumulators and fuel cells.

12. The flying device of claim 1 wherein an outer face of the annular covering has a rubber surface.

13. The flying device of claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the annular covering has a profile that counteracts backflow when the flying device is in flight.

14. The flying device of claim 2 wherein the movement about the first axis of the rotors can be used to control the flying device in flight.