Directionally controllable flying vehicle and a propeller mechanism for accomplishing the same

• US 8,113,905 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Davis
• Original Assignee: Steven Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US12/098,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20110059672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446 46- 48, 244/17.11, 244/17.25, 244 122- 123
• US Class Current: 446/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/32 Rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/57 automatic or condition responsive, e.g. responsive to rotor speed, torque or thrust
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/72 Means acting on blades
• 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 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/30 Wing lift efficiency

Abstract

A flying vehicle in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention includes a propeller control mechanism for flying the vehicle. The propeller control mechanism includes a propeller having a center shaft for connecting to the drive shaft; first and second propeller blades extending from the center shaft; and a control mechanism including a first linkage connecting the center shaft to the first propeller blade and a second linkage connecting the center shaft to a region defined on the propeller, wherein a change in a driving torque of the drive shaft causes the first linkage and the second linkage to change the pitch and height of the propeller blades while substantially unchanging the tip path plane of the propeller blades.

Claims

1. A rotating flying vehicle comprising:

a hub having an outer perimeter;

an outer ring having a diameter greater than said outer perimeter defined by the hub;

a plurality of hub blades extending outwardly and downwardly connecting the hub to the outer ring;

a main propeller having a center shaft for connecting to a drive shaft extending from the hub, the main propeller having first and second propeller blades extending from the center shaft and positioned beneath said plurality of hub blades and within the outer ring, the first and second propeller blades having a defined length such that end tips defined by both the first and second propeller blades extend below said plurality of hub blades, the main propeller when spinning will cause the vehicle to sufficiently rotate in a counter-rotating direction such that the vehicle will fly;

a system for determining a directional point of reference for the main propeller when the vehicle is rotating; and

a propeller control mechanism using a cyclic driving torque to fly the vehicle in a specified direction relative to a remote user, the propeller control mechanism further includes a first linkage connecting the center shaft to the first propeller blade and a second linkage connecting the center shaft to a region defined on the main propeller, wherein a change in a driving torque of the propeller control mechanism causes a decrease or increase in driving torque on the center shaft to cause the first linkage and the second linkage to push and pull on the first and second propeller blades in concert to change the pitch and height of the first and second propeller blades while substantially unchanging the tip path plane of the first and second propeller blades.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second linkage has a substantially L shape design and includes a first end connected to the center shaft and a second end connected to the region of the main propeller at a distance below the first end.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the region of the main propeller is further defined as an edge of the main propeller.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first and second linkages are flexible.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the main propeller further includes an open region surrounding the center shaft and the first linkage.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the first linkage has a portion thereof positioned in a portion of the open region, the first linkage having a first end attached to the center shaft and a second end attached to a region on the first blade.