1728

Item 1728

OTHER: Miscellaneous - Thoughtless Ideas - Ultralight Compound Coaxial Helicopter

Overview:

The union of a weight-shifting coaxial helicopter with a weight-shifting hang glider.

The objective being a low-cost helicopter that is simple to control, has an efficient cruse, a safe rate of un-powered descent, and is easily transportable.

Pictures:

	~ +
Weight-shifting Coaxial Helicopter		Weight-shifting Hang Glider

Sketch:

Notes:

The yellow area is a rigidly deformed surface, or a flexible surface that changes shape with the tilting of the rotors in respect to the wing. Its purpose is to assist with the airflow. It may be preferable to have a greater forward tilt of the coaxial rotors and a greater deformation of the yellow wing surface..

The forward tilt of the rotors is for forward flight. It gives the wing a positive angle of attack while also allowing the rotors to provide forward thrust.

The aft tilt is to allow the rotors to assist with lift during autorotation.

Description of Operation:

General Configuration:

The rotors (+motor) may be gimbaled to the wing.

Flight Control:

The pilot flies the wing and the rotors by weight-shifting, however the amount of weight shifting applied to the wing and to the rotors will vary depending on the desired flight control being input.
The coaxial rotors plus motor are located in the wing's central hole. These rotors can be tilted independently from the tipping of the wing.

Hovering Flight:

The wing and the rotors are both horizontal.

Climb:

With forward flight and using the rotors and the wing for lift. Or ~ slow vertical climb without the use of the wing.

Forward Flight:

The pilot shifts his weight forward to initiate forward flight. As the forward speed increases he adjusts the longitudinal tilt differential, which causes the rotors to have a greater nose down pitch and the wing to have a slightly nose up pitch.

Roll and Lateral Flight:

Synchronized weight shifting on rotors and wing; with the rotors perhaps receiving most of the pilot's weight shift moment.

Yaw:

Limited yaw from the rudder located in the downwash of the rotors.

Un-powered Descent and Autorotation:

The longitudinal flight control is set so that the rotors have a greater nose up pitch then the wing. The rotors then autorotate as the wing glides.

Safety:

The wing assures a slow descent.

The small diameter rotors allow for efficient response to the pilot's flight commands.

Bilaterally symmetrical; for ease of piloting

Miscellaneous:

Tip is the angular change of the wing from horizontal.

Tilt is the angular change of the rotors from the plane of the wing.

The craft may have to be developed beyond that of a backpack configuration, however this should not have a significant effect on the weight of basic concept.

Greater rotor solidity and a slower rotational speed may be beneficial.

The rotors might be an excellent candidate in the future for OTHER: Helicopter - Inside - Coaxial - Electric Motor Located between Rotors ~~ SloMoCo (Slow Motor Coaxial)

Outside information:

Jet powered Hang Glider ~ You Tube

Rotary-wing hang glider
Move to produce world's first hang glider helicopter
Hang helicopter
US patent 5,370,341 ~ Ultralight helicopter and control system
AUTOGIRO AS HANG GLIDER ?

Rotary Wing Forum Thread ~ Ultralight Compound Coaxial Helicopter

Thoughts:

For testing, consider buying an electric model and modifying it??? The batteries represent the weight of the pilot.

Contrarotating:

Aerodynamic Design of VTOL Micro Air Vehicles

Motor:

Himax Contra-Rotating Motors
contra rotating prop brushless ~ RC groups thread

Opinion of Contra-Rotating motors

Propeller:

Counter rotating propellers

Wing:

Rogallo

Concerns:

The cruise speed for the hang glider will be 25 mph; to maybe 45 mph. This may be too slow to be of interest to most people.

During rearward flight, could the airflow interact with the wing in a manner that statically unstable and thereby resisted an attempt to return the craft to a hover? Perhaps this is not a problem since the deformed portions of the wing in front of and aft of the rotor may cause longitudinal static stability.

Initially displayed: May 23, 2009 ~ Posted on Rotary Wing Forum: May 23, 2009 ~ Last Revised: June 29, 2011

The above utility invention is probably old news. However, it is openly and publicly disclosed on the Internet to negate an entity from patenting it, to the exclusion of all others whom may wish to use it. ~ Reference patent law 35 U.S.C. 102 A person shall be entitled to a patent unless - (a) the invention was known ... by others in this country, ..., before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent.