The present invention relates to a flying machine having a new and original configuration allowing it to be used with great flexibility in a multiplicity of fields of application with or without a pilot on board.
The flying machine according to the invention is essentially characterised in that it comprises
In a preferred embodiment the flying machine further includes a lower rotor including a central hub rotatable about the axis of the central rotational support of the supporting structure, an outer channel section ring which is likewise supported by the peripheral part of the supporting structure by contactless suspension means, preferably magnetic suspension means, and a plurality of blades which extend between the channel section ring and the hub and which are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane oppositely from the blades of the upper rotor;
The flying machine according to the invention is usable as a vertical take off aircraft having high efficiency and stability, and as a micro aircraft for environmental monitoring systems or UCAV weapon support systems, and for many other applications which will be referred to hereinbelow.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given purely by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
In the drawings a flying machine according to the present invention is generally indicated 1.
In the illustrated embodiment the flying machine 1 comprises a supporting structure generally indicated 2 (see in particular
The supporting structure 2 comprises a central rotational support 3 having a vertical axis, connected to an essentially horizontal peripheral support part 4 coaxial with this central support 3.
In the illustrated embodiment the central rotational support is constituted by a simple cylindrical pin 3 and the peripheral support part 4 is essentially a ring connected to this pin 3 by means of a plurality of spokes indicated 5.
In alternative embodiments, not illustrated in the drawings, the central rotational support could, in place of a pin, comprise a cylindrical support having a vertical axis, in the form of a bush.
Instead of a ring the peripheral support part 4 could comprise a plurality of annular segments interconnected to the central rotational support by means of respective spokes.
The flying machine 1 further includes an upper rotor generally indicated 6 (see in particular
The upper rotor 6 further has an outer ring 8 of radially inwardly open outwardly faired channel section supported by the peripheral ring 4 of the supporting structure 2 by way of contactless suspension means. In the embodiment which will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings these contactless suspension means are of magnetic suspension type.
Finally, the upper rotor 6 comprises a plurality of essentially radial blades 9 which extend between the hub 7 and outer ring 6 and which are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.
The machine 1 further includes a lower rotor generally indicated 16, which in a manner similar to the upper rotor includes a central hub 17 rotatable about the pin 3 of the supporting structure 2, an outer ring 18 likewise of inwardly open outwardly faired channel section and also likewise supported by the peripheral ring 4 of the supporting structure 2 by contactless suspension means, preferably of magnetic type, and a plurality of blades 19 which extends between the outer ring 18 and the hub 17 (see in particular
The blades 19 of the lower rotor 16 are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane but oppositely with respect to the blades 9 of the upper rotor 6.
As will be appreciated in particular by observing
Similarly, between the channel section ring 18 of the lower rotor 16 and the associated hub 17 the blades 19 of the lower rotor 16 extend at least in part below the lower edge 18a of this channel section ring 18. However, in the lower rotor 16 the central tubular hub 17 is elevated with respect to the lower edges of the associated blades 19. At the lower end of the central pin 3 of the supporting structure 2 there is connected an undercarriage structure generally indicated 20 (see for example
The rings 8 and 18 of the counter-rotating rotors 6 and 16 preferably have, in transverse section, a profile of essentially wing-like type. These rings, overall, thus constitute a sort of “aerofoil” formed by two parts which, by rotating in opposite senses, “see” the air speed with opposite signs thus maximising the velocity difference between the airflow over the upper profile and the airflow over the lower profile.
As already mentioned above, the rotors 6 and 16 are supported by the supporting structure 2 in a rotatable manner about the axis of the central pin 3 by contactless suspension means, in particular of magnetic type.
A possible configuration of such magnetic suspension means is showing in
As seen in this Figure, in the illustrated embodiment the peripheral ring part 4 of the supporting structure 2 has a transverse section in the form of a trident, that is a fork with three prongs 4a, 4b and 4c which are essentially horizontal and vertically superimposed. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, these branches or prongs 4a, 4b and 4c extend radially outwardly of the ring 4. An embodiment is, however, conceivable in which these branches or prongs extend radially inwardly from the ring 4.
The prongs 4a, 4b and 4c of the ring 4 carry respective annular arrays of preferably continuous permanent magnets 23, 24 and 25. These magnets have an upper magnetic polarity and an opposite lower polarity.
The permanent magnets carried by the three prongs are coaxial with one another and vertically superimposed.
The rings 8 and 18 of the rotors 6 and 16 have an essentially C or V shape in transverse section with a respective inner branch 8a, 18a which interpenetrates between respective prongs of the peripheral ring 4 of the supporting structure 2. In particular, the branch 8a of the ring 8 of the rotor 6 extends between the prongs 4a and 4b whilst the branch 18a of the ring 18 of the lower rotor 16 extends between the prongs 4b and 4c.
The branches 8a and 18a of the two rotors 6 and 18 are also provided with respective annular arrays of permanent magnets 26 and 27, coaxial and vertically aligned with those of the ring 4 of the supporting structure 2.
The permanent magnets 26 and 27 of the rotors 6 and 16 are vertically polarised and have an upper polarity and an opposite lower polarity so that the said magnets are able to interact, preferably by repulsion with the permanent magnets 23, 24 and 25 of the supporting structure 2.
Preferably, as seen in
The arrangement is in any event such that the counter-rotating rotors 6 and 16 are capable of turning about the axis of the pin 3 of the supporting structure 2 without any contact, and likewise without friction with the peripheral ring 4 of this structure.
As will be more clearly seen hereinbelow, the rotors 6 and 16 are associated with motor means able to cause simultaneous rotation thereof in opposite senses.
For movement of the machine 1 in the conventional X-Y plane (horizontal movement) the attitude of these rotors can be varied with respect to the supporting structure 2 that is to say the angle formed between the plane of rotation of the rotors 6 and 16 and the general plane of the ring 4 of the supporting structure can be varied.
In a first embodiment, illustrated schematically in
The prongs 4a, 4b and 4c of the peripheral ring 4 of the supporting structure comprise at least some electromagnets, indicated 23′, 24′ and 25′ in
By modulating the exitation of these electromagnets it is possible to achieve a controlled local alteration in the magnetic field generated by the array of magnets of the ring 4 of the supporting structure and correspondingly to vary the aspect angle of the rotors 6 and 16 relative to this supporting structure. The electromagnets can be used to adjust the distance between the rotors and the said prongs and in general to avoid oscillation of the rotors. Sensor means, for example for sensing magnetic fields, located on the prongs, can be utilised for this purpose to measure the distance from the prongs to the rotors.
In a variant embodiment shown in
The ring 4 is, for example, provided with a circumferential continuous or discontinuous array of such bulkheads or blades, which are selectively radially displaceable, for example by means of respective actuators such as the solenoids indicated 28a-31a in
The electrical energy for excitation of the electromagnets 23′-25′ of
In a flying machine 1 according to the invention the motor devices used to cause counter-rotation of the rotors 6 and 16 are in all cases located peripherally, that is to say spaced form the central pin 3.
In a first embodiment, shown in Figures from 8 to 10, these motor devices comprise a plurality of propulsors 40 operating in a pulsed detonation regime or in a deflagration regime, fixed to the peripheral ring 4 of the supporting structure 2, preferably in radially outer position with respect to the magnets and/or the electromagnets carried by this ring. The combustion propulsors 40, of type known per se, can be supplied with fuel stored in reservoirs which can be incorporated in the peripheral ring 4 and/or preferably in the spokes 5 which interconnect this ring to the central pin 3 of the supporting structure. By way of example in
The ducts for introducing the fuel to the combustors 40 are not shown in the drawings, but their provision does not pose problems for those skilled in the art.
The combustors 40 are arranged to direct, in operation, respective streams of burnt gas towards blade-like formations 42 and 43 in the rings 8 and 18 of the rotors 6 and 16 which are thus driven to rotate in the manner of a turbine.
In an alternative embodiment, schematically illustrated in
Current is supplied to the windings 50 and 51 by means of the energy stored in on-board accumulator batteries (not illustrated) and an associated electronic control unit of type known per se.
The electric motor machine utilised to drive the counter-rotating rotors 6 and 16 to rotate can possibly be of reversible type so as to be able to function as an electric generator in order partially to recharge the accumulators in phases of flight in which the rotors can operate in deceleration.
The flying machine according to the invention is conveniently provided with an inertial stabilisation platform for maintaining the supporting structure horizontal.
In particular, the machine can be provided in a manner known per se with sensor devices for inertial navigation, including gyroscopes and accelerometers, magnetic sensors formed with MEMS technology and satellite receivers operating according to the GPS position system.
The machine can also be provided with one or more video camera, both of the conventional type and the infra-red type, with CMOS sensors or integrated photodiode matrices. Such video cameras can serve also as systems for flight stabilisation by means of optical flow techniques, such as anti-collision systems and altitude control systems during take off and landing phases etc.
The video cameras can also serve for recording images.
The on-board electronics may, moreover, include means operable to transmit data to a remote base, for example, at radio frequency.
In
However, the possibilities for use of the flying machine of the invention are many and various: it can be utilised for recognition purposes, for example for control of road traffic, for aerial photography application or for mapping roads and buildings, for surveillance of installations and the like both during the day and/or night both when closed and open.
The machine may also be made with very small dimensions, for example of the order of 150 mm in diameter and in general for the provision of so-called UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicles) with diameters up to 1000 mm.
The machine 1 can however also be made with greater dimensions, with a supporting structure 2 which carries a passenger compartment or cell capable of housing at least one passenger, for example in the manner illustrated in
With reference to
On the other hand, a tail unit 83 possibly provided with a movable directional rudder 84, is connected to the rear projection 81.
A salient characteristic of the machine in vertical flight, that is to say in ascending or hovering phase, is the efficiency due to the wing-type profile of the two counter rotating rings 8 and 18 to which the ends of the blades 9 and 19 are connecting. As already previously stated, the upper and lower rings 8 and 18 constitute an “aerofoil” comprising two parts which, upon rotating, see the velocity of the air with opposite signs. The velocity difference between the airflow over the upper profile and the airflow over the lower profile is thus maximised. The counter-rotating effect maximises the pressure difference between the upper ring and the lower ring thus maximising the lift.
As well as constituting an aerofoil with respect to a vertical transverse section in a plane which contains the axis of rotation, the rings 8 and 18 can be developed with a gradually variable section profile at the same radius. In other words, as is shown in
The same is likewise true for the lower ring 18.
A fixed point in space will see the two upper and lower rings rotate as wing provided with a supporting surface.
The lift due to the two rings sums to that of the blades connected to it. The “torus” constituted in the extreme case by only the rings without the blades can render the use of these superfluous in ascending or hovering flight.
In horizontal flight the counter rotating effect minimises the Heinrich Gustav Magnus force (Panton Ronald, L. “Incompressible Flow”, second edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y. 1996) which tends to displace the device laterally due to the different velocity of air on the two sides. In effect, from one side the speed of rotation is added to the speed of horizontal flight, whilst from the opposite side the speed of rotation is subtracted from that of horizontal flight. The machine according to the present invention being constituted by two counter-rotating parts cancels the effect of the Magnus force.
A further peculiarity is due to the air guide effect due to the ring being supported by the spokes which, in effect, as compared with the conventional arrangement used in helicopters, behaves as a duct which reduces the turbulence at the tips of the blades. This therefore reduces the tip vortices typical of helicopters. With respect to the “helicopter mode”, at the same diameter and power there is up to 30% greater efficiency and lift.
A further peculiarity is associated with the fact that the machine has a peripheral propulsion and therefore requires a propulsion unit with very much lower initial torque with respect to the classical arrangements with the engine located on the axis of rotation.
In comparison with the classical arrangement of helicopters, in machines according to the invention the blades are rigidly attached to the corresponding peripheral ring, and therefore the noise which characterises helicopters, due to the vibration of the blades, is drastically reduced.
A further peculiarity of the machine is the high stability due to the gyroscopic effect, that is to say to the high angular momentum which allows it to balance the “pitch” and “roll” disturbances and renders the machine much less sensitive and vulnerable to side winds.
The outer envelope of the machine which has an essentially ellipsoidal disc shape constitutes a significant peculiarity which gives the system high efficiency in forward flight. The optimum ratio between the radii of the ellipsoid depends on the application; in particular, in relation to the speed in forward flight a ratio of from 4 to 8 can be accepted, with greater values for higher speeds and smaller values when hovering and transport of heavy loads is more important.
To reduce the drag in horizontal flight the profile of the ellipsoid could be preferably pointed.
The number of blades, their angle of attack and their profile will depend, as in the case of helicopters, on the dimensions and transported load. In the case of micro aircraft of dimensions less than 250 mm the use of a rotor with a small number of blades, for example two or three will be preferable. On the other hand in the case of machines of large dimensions, for example greater than two metres, the numbers of blades per rotor could be up to five.
If the machine comprises only a single bladed rotor and is therefore devoid of lower counter-rotating blades, the maximum efficiency will be achieved. In this case the speed of rotation of the two, upper and lower, rings can be different so that their counter-rotating effect balances the device. The propulsion means can be adjusted for this purpose. In particular, in the case of electric propulsion it will be suitable to adopt a control logic implemented by processor or by simple electronics which will adjust the speed of the two annular electric motors in relation to the signal received by sensor means positioned on the spokes or on a platform suspended from them. In the case of fuel-burning propulsion units the thrust on the turbine-means will be adjustable by diaphragms or electronic controls on the power of the combustors themselves.
On the other hand, the presence of two counter-rotating rotors both with blades guarantees the maximum thrust for a given inner diameter of the ring. The two counter-rotating rotors generate an overall lift less than the sum of the thrust of the two independent counter rotating rotors. In particular, with respect to the overall sum of the thrusts of the two independent rotors, the overall thrust is lower when the number of blades is higher and when the upper and lower blades are closer.
If the tail 83 with the rudder 84 of the variant described with reference to
The tail with the rudder can moreover act in the conventional manner as used in helicopters for the purpose of balancing the effect of the rotation of the machine. In particular, if an arrangement with only upper blades is chosen, this arrangement can be used as an alternative to the differentiation of the velocity of the two upper and lower rings.
A further peculiarity of the machine according to the invention lies in its frontal or lateral guidability in forward flight simply by varying the angle of attack of the rotors by means of the associated electromagnets.
A further peculiarity is tied to the fact that the machine can operate as a “flying wing” at high power density with energy accumulated before flight commences. In effect, the two counter rotors can be driven at a high speed of rotation with an energetic external source. For example, if the propulsion is by means of annular electric motors these can be driven to rotate at high speed by means of a remote accumulator battery. The supply of electric motors can be achieved for example by electric contact through the supporting feet. In this case, in particular for the miniaturised micro aircraft configurations, there is the advantage of causing the rotors to rotate without having to use the on-board batteries, which would be operable only once flight has started and can be of lower capacity and power in that they are not needed for the initial thrust which requires a high power density.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the embodiments and details of construction can be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limitative example, without by this departing from the ambit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.
Thus, for example, within the ambit of the invention are embodiments in which the counter rotor 16 is not present but the driving devices of the flying machine are arranged and managed in a manner known per se in such a way as to be able to ensure the necessary stability of the supporting structure of the machine.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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TO2003A000588 | Jul 2003 | IT | national |