Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft – heavier-than-air – Paddle wheel sustained
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2001-05-08
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft, heavier-than-air
Paddle wheel sustained
C244S072000, C244S022000, C416S110000, C416S123000, C440S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227483
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a wing movement for ornithopters, and more particularly, the present invention pertains to a wing movement wherein the wings descend on their broad sides and ascend on their edges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Aviation history abounds of inventions of all sorts to imitate the wing movements of birds. A common objective of these inventions is to enable a person to fly like a bird such as to swiftly take the air or set down at will. Despite all the flying machines known today, it is believed that the mechanism of bird flight has not yet been fully understood and advantageously adapted to flying apparatus. Consequently, many birds and flying insects have been the subject of numerous studies.
Of particular interest is the wing movement of some birds capable of climbing straight up, maintaining a stationary position and even flying backward according to some observations. The wing movement of these birds is that the wings flap down with their broad sides and move up on their edges. The Hummingbird probably represents the best known bird species having such a wing movement. Other bird species having the described wing movement include the Osprey, the Rough-Legged Hawk, the American Kestrel and the Tern.
The wing movement of these birds continues to interest many, mainly because it is believed to represent an ideal concept for developing a compact and versatile flying apparatus capable of taking off and landing without a runway.
Some examples of prior art mechanisms related to the wing movements of ornithopters are described in the following documents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,021,627 issued on Nov. 19, 1935 to A. T. Gilpin;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,376 issued on Dec. 15, 1964 to H. M. Lyle;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,574 issued on Mar. 3, 1970 to A. Ernst;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,171 issued on Feb. 13, 1979 to J. M. Harris;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,749 issued on Dec. 15, 1987 to D. Fox;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,573 issued on Dec. 27, 1988 to J. W. Kelfer;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,861 issued on Nov. 17, 1992 to G. Van Ruymbeke;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,408 issued on May 4, 1999 to K. R. Bowers, Jr.;
GB Patent 885,273 published on Dec. 20, 1961;
DE Patent No. 1,177,941 published on Sep. 10, 1964;
DT Patent 2,706,099 published on Aug. 17, 1978;
Although the ornithopters of the prior art deserve undeniable merits, these apparatus generally have an air plane configuration with relatively wide wing span, and therefore are susceptible of requiring a substantial speed to take the air and to remain airborne.
Therefore it is believed that a need still exists for a compact wing movement which is characterized by a down stroke on the flat side of the wing and an up stroke on the edge of the wing. A need still exists for an effective wing movement which can be built using common technology with common parts and at a reasonable price.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a wing movement which has the advantageous bird-like motion and which is driven by a common motor and gearing system. The wing movement according to the present invention has a compact arrangement and can be used to propel various types of ornithopters.
In a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wing movement comprising a base, a first and second perpendicular axes, the second axis intersecting the first axis at a mid point of the first axis, and means for retaining the second axis to the base. A pair of spaced apart wings is mounted on the first axis, one wing on each side of the second axis. There are also provided means for rotating the wings in opposite directions relative to each other about the first axis, and means for rotating the first axis and the wings about the second axis. The wing movement also has means for synchronising a rotation of the wings about the first axis with a rotation of the first axis and the wings about the second axis.
This wing movement is particularly advantageous for the motion which is defined by its wings. Both wings are movable along a curved infinity-symbol-like pattern projecting substantially along one side of the second axis. The wings are movable in synchronization with each other without interfering with their individual motions nor intersecting the second axis. Both wings are movable along this pattern while descending on their broad sides and ascending on their edges to closely imitate the effect of the wing motion of a hummingbird for example.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ornithopter propelling arrangement comprising a first and second wing movements and a frame mounted between and holding the first and second wing movements in a spaced-apart relationship. The first wing movement comprises first and second perpendicular axes, the second axis intersecting the first axis at a mid point of the first axis, and means for retaining the second axis to the frame. A pair of spaced-apart first wings is mounted on the first axis, one wing on each side of the second axis. The first wings are rotatable in opposite directions about the first axis, and the first axis is rotatable about the second axis. The first wings are rotatable in synchronization with each other and with a rotation of the first axis about the second axis. The second wing movement comprises a third and fourth perpendicular axes, the fourth axis intersecting the third axis at a mid point of the third axis, and means for retaining the fourth axis to the frame. A pair of spaced apart second wings is mounted on the third axis, one wing on each side of the fourth axis. The second wings are rotatable in opposite directions about the third axis and the third axis is rotatable about the fourth axis. The second wings are rotatable in synchronization with each other and with a rotation of the third axis about the fourth axis. The first axis is rotatable in a first direction and the fourth axis is rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction.
In this ornithopter propelling arrangement, the first wings are movable along a first curved infinity-symbol-like pattern projecting substantially along one side of the frame, and the second wings are movable along a second infinity-symbol-like pattern projecting along a second side of the frame opposite the first side. The wing movements in this propelling arrangement are deployable on each side of a central space between the wing movements. This space can be advantageously used to carry control equipment and accommodation for an ornithopter operator for example.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wing movement for use in ornithopters and apparatus of the like, comprising: a gearbox having a housing, a reference gear extending through the housing and being movably mounted to the housing, an input shaft extending through the reference gear and into the housing and a first and second output shafts movably extending from the housing along a common axis at right angle relative to the input shaft. There is also provided a motor having a motor base and a drive shaft connected to the input shaft of the gearbox for rotation of the input shaft. A bracket is connected to the motor base and to the reference gear for retaining the reference gear to the motor base, with an axis of the reference gear in alignment with the drive shaft of the motor. A gearing system is mounted inside the housing for rotating the first and second output shafts one full turn in opposite directions relative to each other, upon a rotation of the input shaft one full turn, and for rotating the gearbox one full turn about the reference gear upon a rotation of the first and second output shafts one full turn. The wing movement also comprises first and second wings mounted to the first and second output shafts respectively outside the gearbox for rotation by the first and second output shafts. When the motor base is adapted to be held fixed and the motor is adapted to be operated, both wings are movable along a curved infinity-symbol-like pattern projecting substantially along one side of the motor.
This structu
Best Christian M.
Jordan Charles T.
Succession Clément Therriault
Theriault Mario
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