Device making it possible to convert a motorcycle into a motorized ultralight aircraft

The device comprises an arch-like structure (3), shaped similar to a cage, which can be fixed to the motorcycle (1), essentially to its frame and sides; a parafoil sail (5), which can be mounted at the top of the cage, the sail ends being lowerable by a pedal or handle control; a propeller propulsion system (8) mounted at the rear of the motorcycle on the arch-like structure; and a clutching and declutching mechanism which, on control, drives either the driving wheel or the propeller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a device making it possible to transform a 
motorcycle in to a powered or motorized ultralight aircraft. 
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
Among aircraft of a relatively simple type, powered ultralight gliders are 
known, which are formed by a combination of a tricycle carrying a 
propeller and a wing of a special type and which is generally rectangular 
and is used by both flat country and gradient parafoil parachutists and 
which is usually known as a "parafoil sail". 
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ACT 
Such a tricycle is sometimes foldable, carries a front wheel and two rear 
wheels carrying a chassis, on which are mounted at least one passenger 
seat and the propeller propulsion motor. 
These aircraft, which have excellent performance characteristics, are 
nevertheless subject to constraints limiting their possible uses. In 
particular, the rolling part of such aircraft is generally rudimentary 
because it has to meet weight requirements. Therefore it is fragile and 
has a poor shock resistance, particularly when not landing on a landing 
strip. 
The return of the glider to the hangar often involves disassembly or 
partial folding up of its different components and the need to call on 
transportation means. The return to the hangar usually takes place by 
towing behind a car, or by transportation on a roof-rack. bp U.S. Pat. No. 
4,657,207 (D. POLING), describes a kit making it possible to transform a 
motorcycle into an aircraft. This kit or adaptor has a propeller 
propulsion system with means for the direct attachment thereof located 
above the rear wheels. A winged structure is connected by suspending ropes 
at the front and rear of the motorcycle, steering control cables being 
connected to bars located below the wings or sails of the parachute. 
A first glance at the above patent could give rise to the idea that the 
device was identical to that of the present invention, but on more 
detailed consideration this is clearly not the case. 
The object of the present invention is to provide a device making it 
possible to equip motorcycles and thus provide a novel aircraft not 
suffering from the aforementioned disadvantages. 
The device according to the invention comprises an archlike structure 
similar to a cage and which can be fixed to the motorcycle, mainly to its 
frame and to its sides; a parafoil sail which can be mounted at the top of 
the cage, the ends of the sail being lowerable by a handle or pedal 
control; a propeller propulsion system mounted at the rear to the 
motorcycle on the arch-like structure; and a clutching and declutching 
mechanism ensuring, on control, the driving of either the driving wheel or 
the propeller. 
It is clear that a motorcycle equipped in this way is completely 
autonomous, because it make possible to start and land at random at the 
point chose by the pilot and without requiring another vehicle for towing 
or transportation purposes. Therefore, it gives a high degree of freedom 
never reached up to now by aircraft of the same type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows that the motorcycle 1 is equipped with an archlike structure 3 
similar to a cage and which surrounds the pilot and is connected to the 
motorcycle frame. 
A parafoil sail 5 is fixed to a crossbeam 7 at the top of the cage, while a 
propeller 8 is mounted in the rear part of the motorcycle, so that its 
rotational shaft has ability to be connected or disconnected to the output 
shaft of the motor or engine 10. 
The parafoil sail 5 of the standard type is formed from two parallel 
sufaces, namely the wing lower surface 12 on the top and the wing upper 
surface 14 on the bottom, which are connected by vertical membranes 
defining boxes or containers and their are generally seven, nine or eleven 
of the latter. In the present case, preference is given to the use of a 
sail with twelve boxes so as to be easily able to take a load of 
approximately 200 kg essentially constituted by the weight of the pilot 
and the assembly formed by the motorcycle and its device. 
In the front part it is possible to see the leading edge 16 by which 
penetrates the air entering the boxes at the time of inflating the sail 
and in the rear part the trailing edge 18. 
From the vertical membranes or ribs emanate four suspending ropes 
20,21,22,23, which are not attached to straps, as in the case of unpowered 
parafoil means. Instead, they are directly connected to the arch-like 
structure 3 on the crossbeam 7, which interconnects the left-hand post 25 
and the right-hand post 27 forming part of the arch-like structure 3. 
To the two ends 29,30 of crossbeam 7 are articulated braking levers 32,34, 
which are kept in the horizontal position by the action of a return spring 
36,37 bearing on the corresponding post. 
Two supplementary suspending ropes on either side of the sail connect the 
ends thereof to the free ends 43,44 of the braking levers 32,34. Two 
cables 46,47 carrying handles 50,51 can be displaced in tubular passages 
provided in the crossbeam 7. These cables are fixed to the suspending 
ropes 40,41, and can be lowered by pulling downwards the handles 50,51, 
can be raised under the action of the pressure of the air exerted on the 
sail ends. 
The suspending ropes 40,41 are also fixed to the respective ends of braking 
levers 32,34. A braking cable 56 passes into the interior of the 
right-hands tubular post 27 and is connected to the braking lever 32 at an 
anchoring point 52 close to the end 30 of crossbeam 7. The other end of 
the braking cable 56 is connected to a braking control pedal 54 located in 
the lower part of the arch-like structure. A not shown, but identical 
braking cable passes in to the left-hand post 25. It is clear that the 
sail ends can be raised or lowered by action on handles 50,51 or pedals 
54, 55, as a requirement of the piloting needs. 
As be seen in FIG. 6, the padal 54 to which is fixed the braking cable 56 
is fixed to a return spring 60. The propeller 8 is mounted at the rear of 
the motorcycle and is streamlined, the width of its fairing not exceeding 
the width of the motorcycle, which makes it possible to use the latter on 
the road without having to dismantle the propeller. If it is wished to use 
a larger propeller, a folding blade type will be used, in the manner shown 
in FIG. 5, where a dismantlable or folding fairing is used. 
The propeller rotation shaft 61 is mounted beneath the motorcycle seat 
between two parallel,lateral crossbeam 63, 65 forming an integral part of 
the arch-like structure. The connections between the propeller 8 and the 
engine 10 are by means of a mechanism 64 of the manually controlled 
disengageable hub type making it possible to disengage the gear box output 
gear wheel and engage the transmission of the motorcycle engine to the 
propeller 8 via a chain 67 or serrated belt of a 90.degree. bevel gear 
lever 68. A steering shock absorber keeps the front wheel in the 
longitudinal axis of the motorcycle during flight. A return-free gas 
control mounted on the motorcycle handlebars makes it possible to keep the 
gases under constant conditions during flight. 
Obviously the embodiment as described hereinbefore have only been given 
given for illustration purposes and numerous modifications and variants 
are possible thereto without passing beyond the scope of the invention.