Asymmetrically changing rotating blade shape (ACRBS) propeller and its airplane and wind turbine applications
AssigneeFranklin Y. K. Chen
InventorFranklin Y. K. Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A propeller includes a plurality of propeller blades. Each blade has an adjustable drag coefficient. A plurality of actuators adjusts the drag coefficients of the propeller blades. A controlling unit controls the plurality of actuators such that the drag coefficients of each propeller blade is adjusted according to a pattern that is dependent upon the rotational angle of the particular propeller blade so that the drag of each propeller blade is maximized at the same point through a course of revolution and minimized throughout the remainder of that revolution.
Claims22
A propeller comprising:
- a plurality of propeller blades rotating through a fluid and having adjustable drag coefficients;
- a plurality of actuators connected to the plurality of propeller blades for adjusting the drag coefficients of the propeller blades;
- and
- a controller connected to the plurality of actuators for controlling the plurality of actuators such that the drag coefficients of each propeller blade is adjusted according to a pattern that is dependent upon the rotational angle of the particular propeller blade and such that a lift force is not developed by the plurality of propeller blades at any rotational angle,
- wherein the propeller is mounted on an airplane.
A propeller comprising:
- a plurality of propeller blades rotating through a fluid and having adjustable drag coefficients;
- a plurality of actuators connected to the plurality of propeller blades for adjusting the drag coefficients of the propeller blades;
- and
- a controller connected to the plurality of actuators for controlling the plurality of actuators such that the drag coefficients of each propeller blade is adjusted according to a pattern that is dependent upon the rotational angle of the particular propeller blade and such that a lift force is not developed by the plurality of propeller blades at any rotational angle,
- wherein the plurality of propeller blades are each comprised of a blade pair comprising an upper blade, a lower blade and a hinge connecting the upper blade to the lower blade,
- the plurality of actuators rotate the upper blade and lower blade about an axis of the hinge towards each other to a closed position, and also rotate the upper blade and lower blade about an axis of the hinge away from each other to an open position,
- the plurality of actuators maximizes the drag coefficient of each propeller blade by opening the blade pair and minimizes the drag coefficient of each propeller blade by at least partially closing the blade pair,
- the controller comprises a base having a guide track formed in a surface thereof,
- the plurality of actuators each comprise a control link assembly and at least one guide bearing connected to the control link assembly, wherein the control link assembly is attached to the blade pair, and the at least one guide bearing is attached to the control link assembly and travels in the guide track, and
- the control link assembly extends and contracts as the at least one guide bearing travels along the guide track to close and open the blade pair thereby altering the drag coefficient of the blade pair.
A method for propelling a vehicle or vessel through a fluid, comprising the steps of:
- rotating a propeller of one or more blades;
- and
- adjusting the drag of each of the one or more blades according to a pattern that is dependent upon the rotational angle of the particular propeller blade, wherein
- a lift force is not developed by any propeller blade at any rotational angle,
- wherein the vehicle or vessel is one of an airplane, a boat, an airboat, a flying boat and a submarine and the fluid the vehicle or vessel is propelled through is at least one of water and air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.