Flying machine comprising twin contra-rotating vertical axis propellers
First Claim
1. A flying machine comprising:
- a chassis;
at least one motor;
two vertical axis contra-rotating propellers having blades arranged with a pitch to generate lift on rotation of the propellers by the motor, the motor being above the propellers, and the propellers sharing a common rotational axis and having an outer periphery;
a seat, footrests and handlebars each mounted above the propellers at positions radially inward of the outer periphery of the propellers, the handlebars being mounted on the chassis, the footrests being provided adjacent the seat, the seat, handlebars and footrests being arranged such that a user of the machine sits substantially centrally on top of the propellers; and
a peripheral skirt which surrounds the propellers, the skirt having inlet ducts therein which are arranged to supply air to the propellers in use;
wherein the skirt is circular and comprises a plurality of vertical spaced rings held in spaced apart position by a plurality of spacer struts and wherein the ducts in the skirt are defined between the rings;
wherein the rings of the skirt are spaced axially apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotational axis, and the plurality of rings are arranged in a row extending vertically from a location adjacent a lowermost propeller to a location adjacent an uppermost propeller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flying machine comprises a chassis on the underside of which is mounted two vertical axis contra-rotating propellers, which share a common rotational axis. The propellers are driven by two motors through a common drive mechanism, the motors being mounted on the chassis above the propellers and being longitudinally spaced apart along the chassis. Handlebars are movably mounted on the chassis between a seat and a nose piece. A user of the machine thus sits substantially centrally on top of the propellers with their legs straddling the motors and drive mechanism, the riding position thus being closely similar to that of a motorbike. Various collective and cyclic blade pitch control mechanisms are also disclosed. The handlebars and seat in some embodiments are replaced by a load carrying region.
28 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A flying machine comprising:
- a chassis;
at least one motor;
two vertical axis contra-rotating propellers having blades arranged with a pitch to generate lift on rotation of the propellers by the motor, the motor being above the propellers, and the propellers sharing a common rotational axis and having an outer periphery;
a seat, footrests and handlebars each mounted above the propellers at positions radially inward of the outer periphery of the propellers, the handlebars being mounted on the chassis, the footrests being provided adjacent the seat, the seat, handlebars and footrests being arranged such that a user of the machine sits substantially centrally on top of the propellers; and
a peripheral skirt which surrounds the propellers, the skirt having inlet ducts therein which are arranged to supply air to the propellers in use;wherein the skirt is circular and comprises a plurality of vertical spaced rings held in spaced apart position by a plurality of spacer struts and wherein the ducts in the skirt are defined between the rings; wherein the rings of the skirt are spaced axially apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotational axis, and the plurality of rings are arranged in a row extending vertically from a location adjacent a lowermost propeller to a location adjacent an uppermost propeller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a chassis;
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18. A flying machine comprising at least one motor above two vertical axis contra-rotating propellers having blades with a pitch arranged to generate lift on rotation of the propellers by the motor, the propellers sharing a common rotational axis and having an outer periphery, the machine being provided with a seat mounted on the machine above the propellers at a position radially inward of the outer periphery of the propellers such that the seat is positioned substantially centrally on top of the rotational axis of the propellers;
- and a peripheral skirt which surrounds the propellers, the skirt having inlet ducts therein which are arranged to supply air to the propeller in use;
wherein the skirt is circular and comprises a plurality of vertical spaced rings held in spaced apart position by a plurality of spacer struts and wherein the ducts in the skirt are defined between the rings; wherein the rings of the skirt are spaced axially apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotational axis, and the plurality of rings are arranged in a row extending vertically from a location adjacent a lowermost propeller to a location adjacent an uppermost propeller.
- and a peripheral skirt which surrounds the propellers, the skirt having inlet ducts therein which are arranged to supply air to the propeller in use;
Specification