IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,199,718
Granted Patent B2
US 9,199,718 · App. 13/371,466 · Granted Dec 1, 2015

Auto-rotating device

Inventor: Shaun P. Fogarty (Portland, OR)
B64C3/14A63H33/18B64C2003/142Y02T50/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,199,718
App. No.
13/371,466
Granted
Dec 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A launchable device capable of autorotating flight. The device comprises a wing with two airfoils that induce this autorotating flight after launch and ascent.

Claims (37)

1. A device capable of auto-rotating when dropped through a fluid, comprising: a body and a wing;

said body comprising a nose;

said wing comprising a joint end adjacent to said body, a tip distal from said body, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; and a varying camber line;

said body and said wing coupled at a junction;

said device further comprising a first cambered shape when sectioned along its width, a second cambered shape when sectioned along its length; and a center of mass substantially adjacent to said junction;

said camber line comprising a line across the wing's width from the leading edge to the trailing edge, at any location along the wing's length; wherein

both said first and second cambered shapes have a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface;

said wing further comprises a pronounced concavity and a rounded extension area;

said rounded extension area comprises a curvilinear extension protruding from said trailing edge, all of the curvilinear extension protruding above camber line; and

said pronounced concavity comprises a pronounced depression in said concave lower surface in said rounded extension area.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said wing comprises a spar coupled to the body and extending along said leading edge of said wing.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the spar is a substantially straight elongated member.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said first cambered shape has a varying angle of attack; said angle of attack being the angle between horizontal and the camber line.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the angle of attack of said first cambered shape is about zero degrees in the area of said first cambered shape adjacent to the nose, the angle of attack of said first cambered shape is about six degrees in the area of said first cambered shape equidistant from said nose and said tip, and the angle of attack of said first cambered shape is about one degree in the area of said first cambered shape adjacent to said tip.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said device rotates about said center of mass when dropped through a fluid.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a spar assembly within said device.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein said spar assembly comprises an elongated flattened and ribbed member with a first end and a second end, the first end being adjacent to said nose, the second end being adjacent to said tip.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a payload coupled to the body and movable relative thereto, to vary the disposition of the center of mass.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said body further comprises a hook protruding there-from, including a hook end directed towards said wing tip.

11. A lift-generating device comprising: a body and a wing;

said body comprising a nose;

said wing comprising a joint end adjacent to said body, a tip distal from said body, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; and a varying camber line;

said body and said wing coupled at a junction;

said device further comprising a first cambered shape when sectioned along its width, a second cambered shape when sectioned along its length, both said first and second cambered shapes having a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface; and a center of mass substantially adjacent to said junction;

said camber line comprising a line across the wing's width from the leading edge to the trailing edge, at any location along the wing's length; wherein

both said first and second cambered shapes have a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface;

said wing further comprises a pronounced concavity and a rounded extension area;

said rounded extension area comprises a curvilinear extension protruding from said trailing edge, all of the curvilinear extension protruding above camber line; and

said pronounced concavity comprises a pronounced depression in said concave lower surface in said rounded extension area.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said device rotates about said center of mass when dropped through a fluid.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the fluid is air.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said first cambered shape has a varying angle of attack; said angle of attack being the angle between horizontal and the camber line.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the angle of attack of said first cambered shape is about zero degrees in the area of said first cambered shape adjacent to the nose, the angle of attack of said first cambered shape is about six degrees in the area of said first cambered shape equidistant from said nose and said tip, and the angle of attack of said first cambered shape is about one degree in the area of said first cambered shape adjacent to said tip.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the device further comprises a payload coupled to the body and movable relative thereto, to vary the disposition of the center of mass.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein said wing comprises a spar coupled to the body and extending along said leading edge of said wing.

18. The device of claim 11 , further comprising a spar assembly, the spar assembly comprising an elongated flattened and ribbed member and a hook, the elongated flattened and ribbed member having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the body adjacent to said nose, the second end being adjacent to said tip.

19. The device of claim 11 , wherein said body further comprises a hook protruding there-from, including a hook end directed towards said wing tip.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61442177 · Feb 12, 2011
Related Publication 20120328441A1 · Dec 27, 2012