Abstract:
A blade is provided for the cycloidal marine propellers or cycloidal aerial rotors which is given the capabilities, in response to control system commands, to dynamically and in real time flex itself along its chord in any required way, vary its relative pivot point position, change its form by extending or retracting a trailing edge extension, tum the flap along the trailing edge in either direction, or allow the blade to be turned by airflow, the blade optionally provided with one or more elastic trailing edges whose stiffness is dynamically, and possibly differentially along the blade span, variable by the control system, the leading and trailing edges being selectively flexible or rigid, the blade provided with the capability of varying its cross-sectional profile thickness, and the blade including flow permeability along its surface, the control system continually optimally adjust the blade in response to its operating environment as the blade travels along its trajectory within each revolution.
Abstract:
To eliminate stability issues in forward flight due to oncoming flow interfering with the flows produced inside the rotor, rotor shielding or enclosure are used giving it the ability to operate steadily at various forward speeds. Furthermore to improve performance and flows cycloidal rotor/propeller has blades travelling along generally non-circular and elongated track and is able to transition to a variety of other track shapes having corresponding blade orbit shapes. Track shape variation designs similar to such track designs for blade trajectory determination are used for the purpose of changing the blades pitch and their cross-sectional shape. One embodiment uses fixed elliptic shape track upon which run carriages connected to blade shafts. Said track can be inclined about its major axis thereby changing its shape projection onto the plane in which blades travel thus changing the elliptic shape of their orbit. Another embodiment during rotor's transitional phase of operation has computer controlled actuators dynamically varying the blades radial positions and thus their trajectory while each blade also runs on and flexes the track containing electro-rheological fluid in the pivots which, once desired orbital trajectory and corresponding track shape are reached and voltage is applied, instantly solidifies making the track rigid and the actuators disengage until the orbit has to change again. Third embodiment uses flexible track with size varying elements built-in; when these elements are activated in proper sequence by computer control system track flexes into shape corresponding to desired orbit shape. Fourth embodiment uses camshaft with continuous surface around which run rollers linked to blades. Camshaft's axial movement accomplishes change of camshaft cross-section shape being followed by rollers and accordingly results into orbit shape changes. Other embodiments feature the neutralization of centrifugal forces acting on the blades, adjustable shape and position vanes control the flows in, out and inside of rotor to further improve rotor performance, forward thrust and prevent rotorcraft destabilization.
Abstract:
In one embodiment of this invention the washers have been provided with the bottom teeth, which sink into the wood surface during nut tightening thus immobilizing the washer, and a turnable upward flap which when bent upward and pressing against the nut facet is preventing its loosening. In another similar embodiment the washer is provided with turnable upward bracket which has a tip entering the screw top's socket or slit, thereby immobilizing the screw and preventing its loosening. As a replacement for cylindrical nuts, a number of types of elongated nuts with open "C" –like cross-sections which elastically compress with their threaded hole becoming misaligned with the screw thereby jamming it. Said misalignment prevents overtightening and contributes to prevention of loosening, while the elastic compression of this nut acts in a way similar to a spring lock-washer preventing loosening. Similar elongated nuts with open cross-section are provided wherein the threaded hole is on top and the bolt is passed through an unthreaded hole between left and right edges which move towards it and grip it at the end of tightening. Said grip prevents overtightening and loosening.
Abstract:
A cycloidal rotor system having airfoil blades travelling along a generally non-circular, elongated and, in most embodiments, dynamically variable orbit. Such non-circular orbit provides a greater period in each revolution and an optimized relative wind along the trajectory for each blade to efficiently maximise lift when orbits are elongated horizontally, or thrust/propulsion when orbits are vertically elongated. Most embodiments, in addition to having the computer system controlled actuators to dynamically vary the blade trajectory and the angle of attack, can also have the computer system controlled actuators for dynamically varying the spatial orientation of the blades; enabling their slanting motion upward/downward and/or backsweep/forwardsweep positioning to produce and precisely control a variety of aerodynamic effects suited for providing optimum performance for various operating regimes, counter wind gusts and enable the craft to move sideways. Thus a rotor is provided, which when used in a VTOL rotorcraft, will require lower engine power to match or exceed the operating performance of VTOL rotorcrafts equipped with prior art rotors, this rotor also offers increased efficiency and decreased required power when used for generating the propulsive force for various vehicles or used as a fan.
Abstract:
In a number of embodiment the washers of this invention have been provided with the narrowing central hole wherein the washer is being compressed during tightening thereby gripping the bolt and preventing its further turning whereas the nut and the washer are immobilized relative to each other. In another embodiments when the washer is compressed, wedges and preventing its further turning and thus preventing any increase in tightening level. Stoppers are also provided which are put on top of the embodiments with a nut having cuts along parts of its length in combination either with a flat or cup washer for compressing the nut radially and thus gripping the bolt at a predetermined axial load/torque level, as well as a nut having a cut through the middle and two footers which flexes when acted upon by axial load of predetermined level and reaction forces from the two footers gripping the bolt
Abstract:
Springs of different types are provided with the ability to dynamically change stiffness. A number of embodiments feature hollow tubing wherein stiffness change is accomplished due to the pressure change inside the tubing which affects the stresses in tubing walls. In other embodiments inside pressure change causes variability in tubing's cross-section shape and size leading to large changes in stiffness. A number of embodiments feature spring coil diameter variability achieved by a variety of means and resulting in highly substantial changes in stiffness and for some embodiments spring length variability thus providing them with actuation capability in addition to stiffness variability.
Abstract:
Springs of different types are provided with the ability to dynamically change stiffness. For one embodiment turning the elastic beams with elongated cross-section inside a leaf spring's housing plate, leaf springs stiffness is varied. Friction forces between plates are also controlled by using a thin layer of electro-rheological fluid between plates whose viscosity is greatly varied by application of voltage. Second embodiment springs made of hollow tubing filled with oil wherein inside pressure is changed by an actuated membrane or piston whose movement drastically increases the hydrostatic pressure inside the tubing and thus increases tensile stress in the tubing's wall and expands the diameter of tubing which may be of cross-section purposely suited for expansion, thereby increasing its stiffness or decreasing it with any desired frequency or changing the stiffness possibly in milliseconds for a period of time. These springs that are also provided with limited actuation capability are especially suitable for counteracting vibration when changing stiffness with same frequency as vibration. When a number of such springs are used to support one load, they can be used for dynamically varying the load distribution or preventing a change to said load distribution in real time. Another embodiment features annular corrugated tubing which with the increase in inside pressure will substantially lengthen, producing large coil radius expansion and accordingly large decrease in spring stiffness, still another embodiment uses corrugated tubing inside a retaining cylinder; said tubing expands lengthwise when inside pressure is increasing but retaining cylinder forces the lengthening tubing to produce new coils inside of it resulting in spring length increase that is actuation and large stiffness variability resulting from coil number variability.
Abstract:
A coiled wire nut stopper to be placed on top of the nut by screwing it onto the part of bolt protruding from the nut. Most versions of nut stoppers have leading sharp end of the wire entering the clearance between end of the nut's thread and bolt thread channel, jamming the nut to prevent its loosening. The coils are tightly hugging the bolt to hold nut stopper in place. Nut stopper can be made symmetrical with 2 sharp wire ends. Nut stopper is movable by two wire loop handles located on leading and trailing coils or by a plurality of handles along the coils whose tips form a shape suitable for gripping either by hand or by a wrench or socket. Nut stoppers with two handles on leading and trailing coils located close together in horizontal plane allow pressing handles closer expanding the coils diameter and simply place or remove the nut stopper without screwing it.
Abstract:
In one embodiment of this invention the washers have been provided with the bottom teeth, which sink into the wood surface during nut tightening thus immobilizing the washer, and a turnable upward flap which when bent upward and pressing against the nut facet is preventing its loosening. In another similar embodiment the washer is provided with turnable upward bracket which has a tip entering the screw top's socket or slit, thereby immobilizing the screw and preventing its loosening. As a replacement for cylindrical nuts, a number of types of elongated nuts with open "C" –like cross-sections which elastically compress with their threaded hole becoming misaligned with the screw thereby jamming it. Said misalignment prevents overtightening and contributes to prevention of loosening, while the elastic compression of this nut acts in a way similar to a spring lock-washer preventing loosening. Similar elongated nuts with open cross-section are provided wherein the threaded hole is on top and the bolt is passed through an unthreaded hole between left and right edges which move towards it and grip it at the end of tightening. Said grip prevents overtightening and loosening.
Abstract:
A lock-washer of conical, annular or other shapes capable of elastic flattening when the threaded connection, of which it is a part, is tightened and having tabs along the perimeter of the central hole. For most embodiments the tabs' tips form a circle of a diameter slightly larger than that of a threaded part which is to pass through the central hole. When during tightening the axial force acting on the lock-washer reaches a pre- determined level and the lock-washer flattens, its central hole diameter decreases and the tab tips enter the thread channel, which will cause the thread to jam, thus preventing further tightening, thereby limiting the axial load in the threaded connection to a pre-determined level. Another embodiment provides a lock-washer which compresses and expands radially during tightening providing a visual and/or audible signal for the worker when said expansion and a corresponding axial load reach the designated level.