Flying Device With Improved Movement on The Ground

• US 20080048065A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julian Kuntz
• Original Assignee: Julian Kuntz
• Inventors: Kuntz, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• 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 with improved movement on the ground with typically three or four rotors or propellers (however, the minimum number of propellers or rotors is one), the axis of rotation of which in each case can be tilted around at least one axis relative to the flying device, characterized in that

a) these rotors or propellers are provided on the outside with annular coverings that are connected directly to the rotor blade tips and rotate with the latter,

b) these coverings have contact with the ground when the flying device is on the ground and the rotor/propeller axes of rotation are appropriately tilted relative to the positions in flight.

c) and these coverings, corresponding to the function of wheel tires by applying torques to the rotary axes of the rotors, enable an independent driven movement of the flying device on the ground, based not on aerodynamic forces but on the direct transmission of force from the aircraft to the ground.

2. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that for at least one, or else for all, of the rotors or propellers the orbital plane(s) can be tilted about two axes.

3. The flying device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that

a) by tilting about the first axis the rotors are changed from the orientation for flight to the orientation for movement on the ground

b) and by tilting about the second axis the flying device can be steered both in the air and on the ground.

4. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it has supports that

a) can be retracted and extended,

b) are provided with damped suspension,

c) are suitable for supporting the flying device in a stable position on the ground,

d) in the retracted state do not touch the ground if the flying device is in the ground configuration described in claim 1),

e) in the extended state, raise the flying device sufficiently so that the rotor coverings can no longer come into contact with the ground in any possible tilted position,

f) can serve as an undercarriage and can take the impact of landing.

5. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that if there are several rotors/propellers these can in each case be tilted independently of each other about the respective possible axes.

6. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that

a) the axes of rotation of the rotors or propellers can be vertically aligned

b) and are designed in such a way that they enable a vertical take-off, hovering flight and a controlled vertical landing.

7. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pitch of the rotor/propeller blades is adjustable.

8. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of the rotors/propellers is driven from its own, independently controllable motor.

9. The flying device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that

a) the rotors/propellers are attached directly to the motor axes

b) and the motors are brushless electric motors.

10. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the energy supply of the motors is realized by

a) lithium-polymer accumulators

b) or fuel cells.

11. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outer face of the rotor covering has a rubber surface.

12. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of the rotor/propeller covering has a profile that in flight counteracts a backflow (pressure equalization flow from the pressure to the suction side of a rotor/propeller).

13. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the movement about the first tilting axis of the rotors/propellers can also be used for control in the air.

14. The flying device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it also has additional mainplanes that generate lift in forward flight.