LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION HIGH-SPEED FLIGHT METHOD AND WING-RING AIRCRAFT USING SAME

Abstract

A low energy consumption high-speed flight method, a wing ring mechanism, a flying saucer with wing rings, and a high-altitude power generation ring and an oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine with the wing ring mechanism using the same are provided. The method enables the wing rings to tilt axially. The wing ring mechanism has the wing rings, a wing-ring rotating assembly, and wing-ring deflecting members each including a telescopic member and movable connecting members. The high-altitude power generation ring has the wing ring mechanism and cables. The wing ring mechanism is connected to the upper end of the cable that is connected to a part of a side of the wing ring mechanism; and the lower end of the cable is connected to a ground tie point. The oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine uses two or two sets of aerostats or aircrafts that are respectively located in two airflows with opposite wind directions.

Claims

1. A low energy consumption high-speed flight method, the flight method enabling a flying saucer with wing rings to obtain a horizontal thrust, wherein the flight method comprises tilting axially the wing rings to enable an orientation of an overall lift force of the wing rings to be a tilt direction, such that the lift force is partially converted into the horizontal thrust.

2. A wing ring mechanism comprising wing rings, a wing-ring rotating assembly, and wing-ring deflecting members, wherein each of the wing-ring deflecting members comprises a telescopic member and movable connecting members; and wherein the telescopic member is one of a hydraulic telescopic rod, a pneumatic telescopic rod, a spiral telescopic rod, a rack telescopic rod, a folding telescopic rod, an inflatable airbag or another member that is reciprocated to change a distance between two ends thereof.

3. The wing ring mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the movable connecting members are arranged at two or three of portions comprising the two ends and a middle section of the telescopic member.

4. The wing ring mechanism according to claim 2, wherein each of the movable connecting members belongs to or comprises a rotating pair, a sliding pair and a bendable member.

5. The wing ring mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the rotating pair enables the telescopic member or the wing-ring rotating assembly to deflect or swing in at least two directions.

6. The wing ring mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the sliding pair enables the telescopic member to move in a horizontal direction.

7. A flying saucer with wing rings, the flying saucer with the wing rings being an aircraft or a submarine that uses the wing ring mechanism as a lift device, wherein the wing ring mechanism is the mechanism according to claim 2, or another one wing ring mechanism that deflects other wing rings.

8. The flying saucer with the wing ring according to claim 7, wherein the flying saucer with the wing rings comprises one of a ring cabin, a saucer-type cabin, a mesh cabin, a cross cabin, a radial cabin or another cabin.

9. A high-altitude power generation ring, the ring being a high-altitude wind power generation device, and comprising a wing ring mechanism and cables, an upper end of each of the cables being connected with the wing ring mechanism, and a lower end of each of the cables being connected to a ground tie point, wherein the wing ring mechanism is the mechanism according to claim 2; and the upper end of each of the cables is connected to a part of a side portion of the wing ring mechanism that is not rotated along with the wing rings.

10. A oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine, being comprised in two or two sets of aerostats or aircrafts that are respectively arranged in two airflows, a wind direction of one of the two airflows being opposite to another wind direction of another one of the two airflows, and the two or two sets of aerostats or aircrafts being connected by a connector that prevents the two aerostats or aircrafts from being separated from each other, wherein at least one of the two aerostats or aircrafts comprises the wing ring mechanism according to claim 2.

11. A oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine, two or two sets of aerostats or aircrafts being respectively arranged in two airflows, a wind direction of one of the two airflows being opposite to another wind direction of another one of the two airflows, and the two or two sets of aerostats or aircrafts being connected by a connector that prevents the two aerostats or aircrafts from being separated from each other, wherein at least one of the two aerostats or aircrafts comprises the flying saucer with the wing rings according to claim 7.

12. The oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine according to claim 10, wherein the connector that prevents the two aerostats or the two aircrafts from being separated from each other comprises cables, connecting rods or brackets; and the cables comprise at least two cables, the connecting rods comprise at least two connecting rods, and the brackets comprise at least two brackets; upper ends of the at least two cables are respectively connected to two sides of a center axis of one of the two aerostats or the two aircrafts that is in an upper one of the two airflows; or upper ends of the at least two connecting rods are respectively connected to the two sides of the center axis; or upper ends of the at least two brackets are respectively connected to the two sides of the center axis; and lower ends of the at least two cables are respectively connected to another two sides of an other center axis of another one of the two aerostats or the two aircrafts that is in a lower one of the two airflows.

13. The oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine according to claim 11, wherein the connector that prevents the two aerostats or the two aircrafts from being separated from each other comprises cables, connecting rods or brackets; and the cables comprise at least two cables, the connecting rods comprise at least two connecting rods, and the brackets comprise at least two brackets; upper ends of the at least two cables are respectively connected to two sides of a center axis of one of the two aerostats or the two aircrafts that is in an upper one of the two airflows; or upper ends of the at least two connecting rods are respectively connected to the two sides of the center axis; or upper ends of the at least two brackets are respectively connected to the two sides of the center axis; and lower ends of the at least two cables are respectively connected to another two sides of an other center axis of another one of the two aerostats or the two aircrafts that is in a lower one of the two airflows.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a wing ring mechanism (side view).

[0092] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a wing ring mechanism (top view).

[0093] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a high-altitude power generation ring (side view).

[0094] FIG. 4 is another schematic structural diagram of a high-altitude power generation ring (side view).

[0095] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine (side view).

[0096] FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine (top view).

[0097] FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (top view).

[0098] FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (side view).

[0099] FIG. 9 is another schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (side view).

[0100] FIG. 10 is yet another schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (top view).

[0101] FIG. 11 is another schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (side view).

[0102] FIG. 12 is a sectional diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (taken along a diameter of the flying saucer).

[0103] FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (side view).

[0104] FIG. 14 is another schematic structural diagram of a flying saucer with wing rings (side view).

[0105] FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of a rail coupling ring with a wheel group of an isosceles triangle shape.

[0106] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a wheel and a rail after being coupled.

[0107] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of coupling a wheel and a rail.

[0108] FIG. 18 is another cross-sectional view of coupling a wheel and a rail.

[0109] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a principle of generating the horizontal thrust by the deflection of a wing ring (schematic side view diagram).

REFERENCE SIGNS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0110] 1: wing ring mechanism; 1-1: wing ring; 1-2: rail coupling ring; 1-3: fin; 1-4: fin support; 1-5: motor; 1-6: wheel; 1-7: wheel frame; 1-8: frame ring; 1-9: rail ring; 2: wing-ring deflecting members; 2-1: rotating pair; 2-2: telescopic rod; 3: cable tie point; 4: cable; 5: sliding pair; 7: axial section of wheel; 8: cross section of rail; 9: center cabin; 9-1: radial section of center cabin; 10: outer ring cabin; 10-1: radial section of outer ring cabin 10; 11: radial cabin; 11-1: radial section of radial cabin (taken in a diameter direction of a flying saucer).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0111] The following discussion provides example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

[0112] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0113] Also, as used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

EXAMPLE I

[0114] This example is a wing ring mechanism including an upper wing ring mechanism 1 and a lower wing ring mechanism 1. Each wing ring mechanism 1 of FIG. 2 encloses wing rings 1-1 and rail coupling rings 1-2 shown in FIG. 1. Each of wing-ring deflecting members 2 of FIG. 2 includes a telescopic rod 2-2 and two rotating pairs 2-1 shown in FIG. 1, and the two rotating pairs are at two ends of the telescopic rod. In this example, each rotating pair 2-1 may enable the equipped telescopic rod 2-2 to swing in two mutually perpendicular directions, and one of the directions overlaps the diameter of the wing ring.

[0115] In addition, each telescopic rod 2-2 needs to be provided with a remote control switch to remotely control the telescopic rod, so as to perform the telescopic motion and control an extending length of the telescopic rod. The rail coupling rings 1-2 in this example can also be replaced with a magnetic levitation coupling ring or another type of wing-ring rotating assembly in addition to the rail coupling ring (all the examples below are the same).

EXAMPLE II

[0116] Each wing ring mechanism 1 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is the same as the wing ring mechanism 1 in FIG. 1, including the wing ring 1-1 and the rail coupling rings 1-2. This example undergoes the following settings on the basis of Example I.

[0117] The two rail coupling rings 1-2 are respectively provided with several motors capable of being freely switched to a motor mode or a power generation mode. All the motors are in a circular array, and each motor is in power connection with one wheel.

[0118] A cable tie point 3 is provided at a part of any telescopic rod 2-2 that does not perform the telescopic motion, and a lower end of a cable 4 is connected to a ground tie point.

[0119] An electric cable is arranged in the cable 4. An upper end of the electric cable is connected with the motor via a circuit.

[0120] In addition, for the lower wing ring (i.e., the wing ring included in the lower wing ring mechanism 1), each fin needs to be equipped with an angle-of-attack deflection device for the fin.

[0121] Use method of the high-altitude power generation ring is as follows. Power is transmitted to the electric motor to enable the electric motor to drive the wing rings to rotate, so as to lead the whole aircraft to rise up into air. After the aircraft reaches a set height, the other three telescopic rods 2-2 are firstly remotely controlled to extend to deflect the two wing rings as a whole, so that ring surfaces tilt to face the wind (as shown in FIG. 4). At the same time, the angle-of-attack deflection device—for the fin in the lower wing ring are operated to adjust the angles-of-attack of all the fins to negative values (if the original angle-of-attack is α degrees, it is adjusted to −α degrees), so that wind naturally drives the lower wing ring to rotate. Then, the power is cut off, so that high-altitude strong wing drives the wing ring to rotate, thereby maintaining the lift force and driving the power generator to generate power.

[0122] The extending length of each telescopic rod 2-2 shall be set as follows. The telescopic rod 2-2 provided with the cable tie point 3 shall not extend out completely, and even this telescopic member can be replaced with an ordinary connecting rod. Assuming that the extending length of another one telescopic rod 2-2, which is located in the same radial direction as the cable tie point 3, is L, the extending lengths of another two telescopic rods 2-2 in a direction perpendicularity to the radial direction may be half of L.

EXAMPLE III

[0123] Two high-altitude power generation rings described in Example II are taken, and their cables are connected to form a set of high-altitude oppositely-pulling power generation rings that do not require a ground traction cable to provide tensile forces. Furthermore, the high-altitude power generation rings essentially are the oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine that are able to hover on top of the stratosphere or troposphere for a long time or cruise freely in the east-west direction (FIG. 5).

[0124] Use method:

[0125] The two high-altitude power generation rings are initiated successively, so that they respectively enter the east airflow and the west airflow of the stratosphere (or the east airflow and the west airflow on the top of a trade-wind zone). After the cables of the high-altitude power generation rings are strained, the operation method described in Example II is initiated to enable the attitudes of the high-altitude power generation rings to be as shown in FIG. 5. The tensile forces of the east and west parties can be adjusted by adjusting opening angles. When the contra tensile forces of the two parties reach a balance, the whole aircraft will hover. When the contra tensile forces of the two parties are out of balance, the whole aircraft will cruise to east or to west.

EXAMPLE IV

[0126] One or more cables 4 are added for the cable rope in Example III (as shown in FIG. 6).

[0127] The advantage of this example is that power that is along the north-south direction can be generated, so that really free cruising in all directions can be realized without deflecting the individual fins in turn.

[0128] It should be noted that, the telescopic rod 2-2 provided with the cable tie point 3 can be replaced with the ordinary connecting rod without a telescopic function in Example III, whereas this telescopic rod is not replaced with the ordinary connecting rod in this example. Otherwise, the wing rings may not be deflected to the north and south sides.

[0129] The method and the principle used in this example (see “Beneficial effects and Technical principles” of the technical solution “Oppositely-pulling hovering-flight machine” for details.

EXAMPLE V

[0130] As shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, each wing ring mechanism 1 includes a set of wing ring 1-1 and a set of rail coupling ring 1-2 at the corresponding position in FIG. 1.

[0131] In this example, on the basis of Example I, outer ring cabins 10 are first added to form a flying saucer with wing rings. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer ring cabin 10 is connected to the wing ring deflecting members 2 through a sliding pair 5 (the deflecting member 2 is also as shown in FIG. 8, and includes a telescopic member 2-2 and a rotating pair 2-1). It can be seen that there must be a movable connection between the wing-ring deflecting members 2 and the outer ring cabin 10.

[0132] When the flying saucer needs to move forward, only the front and rear telescopic rods 2-2 need to be manipulated to extend in opposite directions (as shown in FIG. 9, the front telescopic rod 2-2 is lowered as a whole, and the rear telescopic rod 2-2 is raised as a whole). At this time, the front and rear telescopic rods 2-2 may be close to each other. This is the reason that the wing-ring deflecting members 2 in this example must be movably connected to the outer ring cabin 10 and a connection pair must enable the two telescopic rods 2-2 to move oppositely in the horizontal direction. Otherwise, the telescopic rods 2-2 will be restricted by the cabin and cannot move. At this time, the two telescopic rods on the left and right do not need to slide, and only need to continue to be centered (that is, the two ends of each telescopic rod extend the same length), so as to adapt to the deflection of the wing ring mechanism 1. The sum of the extending lengths of two ends of each telescopic rod is equal to the extending length of each of the front and rear telescopic rods 2-2.

[0133] If the flying saucer needs to turn left or right in the advancing or reversing process, the left and right telescopic rod 2-2 are manipulated to rise upward or downward wholly, so that the wing ring tilts to the left or right to obtain the horizontal thrust to the left or the right.

[0134] Regard setting of the rotating pair in this example:

[0135] If the flying saucer only needs the horizontal thrust for advancing or reversing, all the rotating pairs 2-1 only need to be able to deflect in the forward and backward directions. If the flying saucer needs to turn left or turn right, all the turning pairs 2-1 must also be able to deflect to the left or the right. If the left and right telescopic rods 2-2 need to directly extend and retract with enabling the front and rear telescopic rods 2-2 to have extended upward and downward, the rotating pairs 2-1 can be made to deflect not only along two mutually perpendicular axial directions, and can be made to deflect along more axial directions (universal rotating pairs like bowl-shaped bearings or other types are preferred).

EXAMPLE VI

[0136] On the basis of Example V, the front, rear, left and right directions of the flying saucer with wing rings are adjusted to the orientations shown in FIG. 10.

[0137] When the flying saucer needs to move forward or backward horizontally, only the front and rear sets of telescopic rods 2-2 are manipulated to perform a corresponding telescopic motion. If the flying saucer requires the horizontal thrust for turning left or turning right, only the left and right sets of telescopic rods 2-2 are manipulated to perform a corresponding telescopic motion (as shown in FIG. 11).

EXAMPLE VII

[0138] On the basis of the wing ring mechanism of Example I, a center cabin 9, an outer ring cabin 10 and a radial channel cabin 11 are added to make the wing ring mechanism to be a flying saucer with wing rings (as shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14).

[0139] The biggest difference between this example and Examples V and VI is that, any telescopic rod 2-2 will inevitably swing when the telescopic rod performs a telescopic motion. Therefore, the setting of the rotating pair may be adapted to swing requirements for the telescopic rods (as shown in FIG. 14).

[0140] The matters that must be paid attention to during setting the rotating pairs 2-1 in this example and the above examples can be seen in Example VIII.

EXAMPLE VIII

[0141] In all the above examples, the number of telescopic rods 2-2 connected with each wing ring is not greater than 4. If the diameter of the wing ring mechanism is relatively large, more telescopic rods 2-2 need to be added to provide the thrust and the stability required for the wing ring deflection. After the telescopic rods 2-2 are added, all the telescopic rods 2-2 are preferably still in a circular array. For each added telescopic rod 2-2, the extending length thereof is equal to half of the sum of the extending lengths of the two telescopic rods 2-2 that are closest to the added telescopic rod on the same circumferential line. As for the setting of movable connecting members, it is more complicated. Examples I and V involve the setting respectively. Principle of setting the rotating pair is further described here.

[0142] When the number of telescopic rods 2-2 is equal to 4, Example V, Example VI and Example VII are preferred.

[0143] When the number of telescopic rods 2-2 is greater than or less than 4, and the number of telescopic members is assumed to be N, if N is a singular number, the number of deflection directions of the rotating pairs (or a rotating pair group) configured for each telescopic member should not be less than N (because the telescopic member needs to swing in N directions). If N is an even number, the number of deflection directions of the rotating pairs (or a rotating pair group) configured for each telescopic member should not be less than N÷2 (the telescopic member only needs to swing in N÷2 directions). Only when N is 2, the situation is more special. If the swing directions of two telescopic members are the same or parallel, then the number of deflection directions of the rotating pairs (or a rotating pair group) configured for each telescopic member only needs to be not less than 1. If the swing directions of the two telescopic members are intersecting (for example, the two telescopic members alternately expand and retract, instead of synchronous expansion and retraction), the number of deflection directions of the rotating pairs (or a rotation pair group) configured for each telescopic member should not be less than 2.

[0144] The flying saucer with wing rings must have horizontal thrusts in four directions including an advancing direction, a reversing direction, a left turning direction and a right turning direction. Therefore, the wing ring mechanism must have at least 3 telescopic members. Furthermore, except for very small flying saucers such as toys or airplane models, 4 or more telescopic members are appropriate due to the thrusts in the four directions easily and accurately being controlled by 4 telescopic members. Furthermore, 4 telescopic members can ensure the power and stability required for the deflection of the wing rings, and the four telescopic members should be appropriately in a circular array. Therefore, each configured rotating pair must be able to rotate around two mutually perpendicular axes in a reciprocating manner.

[0145] However, large and medium-size wing ring flying saucers require 6 or more telescopic members for their wing ring mechanisms due to their large diameters. The actual number is sufficient to ensure the thrust and stability required for the wing ring deflection.

EXAMPLE IX

[0146] On the basis of Example Ito Example VII, the rail coupling rings are modified as follows. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the wheel group is changed to a wheel group in an isosceles triangle array, and wheels in the isosceles triangle array surround and couple with the rail in three directions. The opening of the isosceles triangle shape can be toward either the left or the right, whereas it is not convenient if the opening is upward or downward.

EXAMPLE X

[0147] On the basis of Example Ito Example VII, the rail coupling rings 1-2 are modified. The wing ring mechanism 1 in Examples II to VII includes rail coupling rings 1-2 and wing rings 1-1 (such as the rail coupling rings 1-2 and the wing rings 1-1 in FIG. 1 of Example I). The specific modification is to replace the circular rail formed by the rail coupling rings with a rail having a concavely or convexly trapezoid cross-section. A circumference (that is, a rolling surface in contact with the rail) of each of the wheels is correspondingly replaced with a shape of a convexly trapezoid or concavely trapezoid (the rail and the wheels are as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18).

[0148] The advantage of this example is that only one wheel on one section can realize the coupling and the torque transmission. The structure is simple, the cost is low, and the self-weight is small. It is especially suitable for smaller flying saucers, especially toy flying saucer airplanes.

EXAMPLE XI

[0149] On the basis of Example V, Example VI, and Example VII, waterproof measures should be taken to prevent the flying saucer with wing rings from sinking when the flying saucer is landed on the water surface. Airbags with the shapes consistent with projection shapes of cabins can also be added at the bottoms of the various cabins of the flying saucer, and are equipped with rapid inflating and exhausting devices, so as to increase the buoyancy when the load is too heavy.

EXAMPLE XII

[0150] On the basis of any kind of flying saucer with wing rings, waterproof measures are taken, and an angle-of-attack deflection device is added for each fin (particularly, each fin of the lower wing ring). Furthermore, the angle-of-attack deflection device must be able to make the fins to deflect to a sufficiently large negative angle-of-attack (to dive into the water to generate a downward thrust). If the submerging or the further dividing is needed, only the deflection degree of the lower wing ring needs to be increased to make the lower wing ring to dive partially into the water, and to make each fin (particularly, each fin of the lower wing ring) deflect to a sufficiently large negative angle-of-attack. Opposite operations are implemented when the flying saucer with wing rings needs to rise up or get out of water.

[0151] Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Moreover, and unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

[0152] It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the disclosure. Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to the elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps can be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.