Flying device and a wing construction for the same

Flying device, in which there is a fuselage (2, 2′), wings (8, 9), which are connected to each other to form an essentially looped structure, elements (4, 5) for creating a flying force, and the desired elements (e.g., 7, 7′) for controlling the flying device (1). The wings (8, 9) of the flying device (1) form a unified totality detachable from the fuselage (2, 2′). A wing construction is also included.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flying device, and more specifically to an ultra-light flying device carrying a load of at most one person. The invention also relates to a wing construction to be used in the flying device.

Throughout history humans have had a strong desire to fly. Thus, a great many devices intended for flying, which can also be called aircraft, have been developed. In many situations, the development work has culminated in aerodynamics. In this field, properties that improve, for example, energy economy, have been created, especially with reference to professional aviation.

2. Description of Related Art

Development has also taken place in terms of flying devices equipped with propellor blades rotating around a vertical axis. In practice, this means flying devices, which can generally be referred to as helicopters. Very many different adaptations of ‘personal’ flying devices of this kind can also be found in the patent literature. Unfortunately, quite many of these are, however, based on theory, and often on misunderstood theory at that, and not on practice.

In terms of flight, one class of flying device are those operating without a separate power device. So-called hang gliders are a good example of this class. In order to take off, devices in this category require towing, or a high place from which gliding can commence.

Because the weight of small flying devices is an important factor relative to both use and also official regulations, attempts have been made to reduce weight in every way possible. The main ways are a reduction in size, or material selections, which allow sufficiently strong structures to be created with the least weight possible. Modern materials provide excellent opportunities for this.

When speaking of flying devices that are equipped with an apparatus developing a pushing force, and combining this with a small size and light weight, one factor is the easy portability of the device. On the one hand, this signifies a positive value, because the owner can take the device with them by using conventional means, such as normal-sized trailer for a car. On the other hand, this also signifies a negative side, in that the device cannot be left unwatched anywhere, because a thief can easily take the device, without requiring a crane or similar tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is indeed intended to create a flying device, which is sufficiently small and light to be able to be transported without great difficulty. An additional intention is to create a device, in which excellent properties in terms of use and portability have been achieved in an inventive and easy-to-use manner. The aim is also to achieve an inventive wing construction to be used in the flying device.

The aforementioned and other benefits and advantages of the invention are achieved in the manner described as characteristic in the accompanying claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The details of the wing construction will come clear in connection of the total construction of the flying device.

The flying device shown inFIG. 1is formed as follows. The basic components of the flying device1are a fuselage2,2′ and wings3. A pushing force is produced in a conventional manner by a propellor4, which is rotated by a motor5, which is shown here as, for example, an electric motor, which is driven with the aid of a power supply. The power supply is especially a battery, which is not marked here. In any event, the battery or batteries, or fuel tank in the event that the flying device is driven by a combustion engine, can be located in an appropriate manner by exploiting the suitable cavities of the flying device, such as the fuselage parts2or2′, or the boom14described later.

As can be seen fromFIG. 1, the pilot6sits in a cockpit made for him, in which he has control devices for controlling the flying device, such as a joystick and possible control pedals, which are not draw in the figure. At its simplest, the 20 cockpit is an open seat recess in the fuselage.

The flying device is controlled by means of various aileron solutions, of which the rudder7is clearly visible inFIG. 1.FIG. 2, for its part, shows schematically the ailerons7′ in the upper part of the wing structure3, which, irrespective of the exceptional nature of the construction, can be called the upper wing8. The details of the ailerons7′ will not be dealt with in greater depth here, because this area of the invention is conventional technology. The lower wing is marked with the reference number9and the flat portion, which lies against the fuselage structure, is marked with the reference number10.

It can be seen fromFIG. 4that, seen from straight in front, the upper wing8and the lower wing9form a unified closed loop structure.FIG. 3, for its part, shows one of the invention's characteristic features, i.e. that the lower wing9is swept strongly backwards as an arrow shape, which means that, when seen from directly above, the wings overlap each other over only a limited area in the tip area of the wings. This also plays an important part in relation to the detachability of the wings, described hereinafter. This is because, when the wings are rotated, a large gap is obtained, which permits the wings to be brought forward around the fuselage and away from the fuselage.

FIGS. 5-8show the stages, in which the wing arrangement is detached from the fuselage. In this way, it is made possible for this ultra-light flying device to be transported using a conventional car trailer. The example of the flying device has an envisaged wing span of only about five meters. The fuselage has a maximum length of only somewhat over four meters. Thus, these two components, the fuselage and wings can, in terms of both their weight and dimensions, be packed onto a trailer and driven to the intended flight location, where the wings are attached to the fuselage and the device will be in flying condition immediately after. After the flight, it is easy to detach the wings and drive the device away.

FIG. 5shows a side view of the flying device according to the invention, with the wings cut away at approximately the fuselage line, in order to open the views.

The important aspect is that the wings8and9are attached to the fuselage2,2′ in such a way that it is easy to dismantle the attachment and to remove the wing structure from the fuselage as a totality. Thus, in the fuselage there are recesses8′ and9′ for the wings8and9, the bottoms of which correspond essentially to the shapes of the surfaces of the wings. In this way, a tight and very secure joint is created between the wings and the fuselage. The recesses8′ and9′ can be seen best inFIG. 8.

The totality formed by the wings remains in place with the aid of separate locking pieces11and12. The said pieces can be attached to the fuselage structures in such a way that they create suitable compression, pressing the wings8and9tightly into the recesses8′ and9′ in the fuselage. The attachment of the locking pieces11and12is arranged in such a way that the time required to detach them is as short as possible, i.e. some kind of quick-release locking is possible.

In the various sectors of technology, numerous different solutions exist for locking that can be quickly opened and closed again. For example, a solution can be used, in which a locking piece is pushed from one edge under a suitable tongue or similar, and the opposite edge is locked using, for example, a screw attachment.

FIGS. 6-8show the stages of the detaching of the wings8,9. InFIG. 6, the locking pieces11and12are being detached from the fuselage. This is continued until the said pieces have been removed entirely.FIG. 7shows how the rotation of the wings has been started and inFIG. 8the situation is already one in which the wings have been rotated to a position, in which they are in the last stage before being finally detached from the fuselage.

As stated earlier, the construction of the wings, so as to create an arrow angle of a considerable size, makes their removal possible. As those skilled in the art will know, wings8and9that are aligned vertically over each other would not provide additional space in any relation, no matter what attempts would be made to rotate them, thus making the removal of the wings impossible. By using a construction, in which the wing9protrudes considerably forward, thus forming an arrow angle, rotation becomes possible and rotation in the manner shown inFIG. 8will release the space between the wings, the exploitation of which will allow the wings to be moved forward around the fuselage.

FIG. 8shows particularly a safety factor created by the invention seen, i.e. the corresponding slot or recess13at the trailing edge of the wing9, in which the trailing edge of the wing9is located when the wings8and9are in place. It can clearly be seen from the figure that, by means of this construction, the wings cannot accidently detach, because detaching requires the release of both locking pieces11and12and additionally the wing8to rotate considerably forward, before the wing9can separate from the recess13.

The reinstallation of the wings on the flying device naturally takes place in a sequence opposite to the removal sequence described above. In any event, the removal of the wings and setting them in place are operations that are rapid and, as such, easy to perform.

It should also be stated that, even though the removal and setting in place of the wings over the front part of the flying device is described in detail above, the movement of the wings can equally well take place over the rear of the device. In practice, the actual direction is selected, for example, according to where the fuselage is supported on the ground, or by other factors.

The pilot is protected and the structure reinforced by the supports14and15, which can also, if necessary, act as channels for other needs. It is also possible to refer to booms, which are generally hollow structures that create the lightest structure possible, but one that is strong. For example, the booms/supports14and15can act to carry electrical conductors from the battery to the motor rotating the propellor, or for feeding fuel to the engine, or as previously stated, also as a location for the battery/fuel tanks. Many other requirements relating to the flying device's control and construction can be met by using the booms14and15.

It is obvious, that numerous changes in appearance or operation can be made in one type of the invention, which is described above with reference to the drawings, while nevertheless remaining within the scope of protection of the basic idea of the invention and the accompanying Claims.