Craft and method for assembling craft with controlled spin

• US 9,162,764 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesir, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aesir, Ltd.
• Inventors: Babinsky, Holger, McIntosh, Simon, Whitcher, Lee, Potter, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): OHara, Brian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Keith L
• Application Number:
  US12/792,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 244/12.1, 244/12.2, 244/12.3, 244/12.4, 244/12.5, 244/23.C, 244/23.A
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/42 with independent propulsion or direction control
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/16 by direct use of propellers or jets
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2011/002 using Coanda effect, i.e. the tendency of fluid jets to be attracted to nearby surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/064 with radial airflow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

This invention relates to a craft designed to move through or on a surface of a fluid. It is believed to be principally of use in relation to airborne craft and missiles but the theory behind the invention is equally applicable for example to submarines.

Claims

1. A coanda craft, comprising:

an impeller for generating a jet of fluid, the axis of the impeller defining an axial direction, and the jet of fluid defining a radial direction;

a canopy having a lift producing surface positioned with respect to the impeller and shaped to divert the jet to flow from a substantially radial direction towards a substantially axial direction; and

an aerofoil control surface separate from the impeller, the aerofoil control surface including;

a non-moveable air flow vane affixed to the canopy, at least a portion of the non-moveable air flow vane positioned upstream of the lift producing surface and having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion angled away from the radial direction, the downstream portion oriented in substantially the radial direction; and

a hinged air flow vane positioned adjacent the non-moveable air flow vane and configured to pivot with respect to the non-moveable air flow vane.

2. A craft according to claim 1, further including a shroud which extends circumferentially about the impeller defining a duct within which the impeller resides.

3. A craft according to claim 2 wherein the shroud is supported upon a canopy defining the curved surface and that the aerofoil control surface is located between the shroud and the canopy.

4. A craft according to claim 3 wherein the non-moveable airflow vanes perform the function of struts to support the shroud with respect to the canopy.

5. A craft according to claim 2 wherein the impeller is arranged to draw fluid from above the curved surface.

6. The craft of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the upstream portion is at an angle between 10 and 20 degrees from the radial flow direction.

7. The craft of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the upstream portion is at an angle between 15 and 21 degrees from the radial flow direction.

8. A craft according to claim 1, wherein the hinged vanes are divided into at least two sets, and the actuating system comprises a first belt running between belt engagements of hinged portions of a first set of vanes and a second belt running between belt engagements of hinged portions of a second set of vanes.

9. A craft according to claim 8 wherein the vanes of the first and second sets of vanes are arranged alternately around the canopy.

10. The craft of claim 1, further comprising an actuating system configured to rotate the hinged vanes, the actuating system being housed substantially within the shroud.

12. The craft of claim 1, wherein the aerofoil control surface is secured within a cassette including aerofoil control surfaces interposed between coaxial supporting members.

13. The craft of claim 12, in which the canopy includes a circumferential recess into which the supporting members are located.

14. The craft of claim 1, wherein the canopy includes a shroud defining a housing, the craft further including an actuating system disposed within the housing, the actuating system configured for controlling a pivoting of sets of pivoting air flow vanes.

20. The craft of claim 1, wherein the non-moveable air flow vanes are oriented to be aligned with the swirl angle θ

at the exit point of the impeller.

11. A method of controlling a flight orientation of a Coanda craft having an impeller for generating a jet of fluid and means for causing it to flow over a curved surface including a lift producing surface, the axis of the impeller defining an axial direction, and the jet of fluid defining a radical direction, the method comprising:

selectively pivoting a plurality of aerofoil control surfaces each having a fixed vane and a pivoting vane, the control surfaces spaced separate from the impeller and positioned circumferentially around an outlet of the impeller, at least a portion of the fixed vane positioned upstream of the lift producing surface to control jet flow along the radial direction, the fixed vane having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion angled away from the radial direction, the downstream portion oriented in substantially the radial direction; and

an adjusting mechanism for pivoting the pivoting vanes to control spin of the vehicle, the mechanism enabling a differential of flow over one portion of the radial portion of the curved surface as compared with another portion of the radial portion of the curved surface to thereby enable control of a flight orientation of the craft.

15. An aircraft, comprising:

an impeller for generating a jet of fluid, the axis of the impeller defining an axial direction, and the jet of fluid defining a radial direction;

an airflow surface using the coanda effect and including a lift producing portion;

a plurality of air flow vanes radially disposed about and not connected to the impeller to control airflow exiting the impeller along the radial direction, one or more of the plurality of vanes including;

a fixed vane positioned upstream of the lift producing portion and having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion angled away from the radial direction, the downstream portion oriented in substantially the radial direction; and

a hinged vane connected to the fixed vane to be downstream of the fixed vane and adjustable with respect to the fixed vane to thereby direct a flow of fluid emanating from the impeller to stabilize the aircraft.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein there are a plurality of hinged vanes forming at least two independently adjustable sets, the craft further including:

at least two belts, each belt controllably joining vanes of a set;

an actuator for driving each of the at least two belts.

17. The aircraft of claim 16, further including a shroud forming a housing for the belts and the actuator, the hinged vanes hingedly secured between the airflow surface and the shroud.

18. The aircraft of claim 15, the hinged vane pivotally connected to the fixed vane.

19. The aircraft of claim 15, further including a transmission configured to pivot sets of hinged vanes, the transmission connected to hinged vanes by a member of the group consisting of belt, chain, web, elongate medium.

21. The aircraft of claim 15, further comprising an actuator, a plurality of belt engagements each associated with a hinged airflow vane, and a belt running between the actuator and the plurality of belt engagements.