Jet circulation control vehicle

Claim 2

Jet circulation control device for vehicle comprising: a control foil having a round leading edge, a trailing edge of finite curvature, and a generally streamlined intermediate connecting portion, thereby forming a body having a generally streamlined contour in a longitudinal cross-sectional plane, and having, for a required magnitude and direction of lift, a calculated stagnation point near the trailing edge from which point a streamline is extended outwardly of the foil, and jet-producing means discharging a single nontangential pressurized, circulation control liquid jet in the crosssectional plane outwardly from approximately the calculated stagnation point substantially in the direction of the calculated dividing streamline.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the jet-producing means is adjustable angularly to controllably vary the direction of the liquid jet relative to the foil.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the jet-producing means comprises adjusting means for selectively adjusting the jet-producing means with respect to the mass flow rate therein.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein the jet-producing means comprises a spanwise, continuous jet discharge slot disposed approximately along the stagnation line.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein the jet-producing means comprises a plurality of jet discharge openings located approximately along the stagnation line.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a marine craft and the control foil is a hydrofoil attached to the craft and submerged in water.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein the foil is operated approximately at zero angle of attack.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein the trailing end portion of the foil for the vehicle moving in a liquid medium comprises: a foil enclosure member having an open end thereon, and a movable member movable relative thereto and closing the open end thereof for forming the very end of the foil, the exterior exposed surfaces of the enclosure member and movable member matching each other to form a single substantially stream surface, the jet-producing means being connected to the movable member to move therewith for discharging pressurized liquid through an opening in the movable member out of the foil to achieve circulation control of the foil relative to the liquid medium, the movement of the movable member changing the position of the liquid jet on the foil surface thereby changing the efficiency and character of the circulation control.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8 wherein the movable member comprises at least partly a cylindrical structure rotataBle around its cylindrical axis, and a conduit for the passage of the pressurized liquid jet, at least a portion of the conduit being located at a position substantially coinciding with the cylindrical axis.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1 including flow separation control means for maintaining the streamline flow to the said stagnation point.

Claim 12

The device of claim 10 wherein the flow separation control means comprises a second jet-producing means discharging at least a single tangential jet along the surface of the foil and toward and ahead of the circulation control liquid jet.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10 wherein the flow separation control means comprises a liquid suction means located on the surface of the foil and ahead of the circulation control liquid jet for sucking and removing a portion of the liquid flowing around the surface of the foil.

Claim 14

The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is subject to unwanted rotation in a plane arising from a net external force having a component in the plane to thereby create a rotating moment about the center of gravity of the vehicle, and including sensing means sensitive and responsive to the intensity and direction of the net external force for actuating, when the component exceeds a preset limit, the jet-producing means into discharging the liquid jet to generate a lifting force on the foil in a direction to counteract the rotating moment of the net external force.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13 wherein the sensing means comprises fluidic means capable of sensing the net external force and of actuating the jet-producing means thereby achieving the desired circulation control and foil-lifting characteristics.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14 including a second jet-producing means to discharge a second pressurized jet at a position different from the first jet and wherein the fluidic means comprises a fluidic guide having a properly oriented pressurized fluid inlet tube connected at a connecting point to two inclined branches inclining at least nearly symmetrical to the inlet tube on an extension thereof to thereby form a Y-shaped configuration, and two pitot tubes in the same Y-plane and oriented substantially normal to the inlet tube but oppositely extending therefrom near the connecting point to sense differential pressure on opposite sides of the fluid guide and to selectively and differentially actuate the two jet-producing means thereby achieving circulation control and creating a lifting force on the foil to counteract the tendency of the differential pressure to rotate the vehicle unwantedly.

Claim 17

The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is subjected to undesirable conditions including rolling, pitching, and yawing, and wherein the jet-producing means is designed to eliminate the undesirable conditions when the mass flow in the jet is properly controlled and including: jet control means for controlling the flow in the jet; sensing means for sensing the presence of the undesirable conditions; and operative connecting means for connecting the sensing means and control means so that any presence of the undesirable conditions sensed by the sensing means causes the control means to control the mass flow in the jet in such a manner as to substantially eliminate the undesirable conditions.

Claim 18

The device of claim 16 wherein the liquid jet can be turned on and off and wherein the jet-producing means is designed to eliminate the undesirable conditions when the liquid jet is turned on, and any presence of the undesirable conditions sensed by the sensing means causes the control means to turn on, with the aid of the connecting means, the liquid jet, thereby eliminating the undesirable conditions.

Claim 19

The device of claim 16 wherein the liquid flow in the liquid jet can be changed and wherein the jet-producing means is designed to eliminate the undesirable conditions when the liquid jet flow is properly changed, and any presence of the undesirable conditions sensed by the sensing means causes the controL means to properly change, with the aid of the connecting means, the liquid flow, thereby eliminating the undesirable conditions.

Claim 20

The device of claim 16 wherein the fluid jet can be angularly varied and wherein the jet-producing means is designed to eliminate the undesirable conditions when the fluid jet is properly angularly varied, and any presence of the undesirable conditions sensed by the sensing means causes the control means to properly vary angularly, through the connecting means, the fluid jet, thereby eliminating the undesirable conditions.

Claim 21

The device of claim 16 wherein the sensing means senses not only the presence but also the intensity of the undesirable conditions, and the connecting means affects the control means according to the intensity of the undesirable conditions as sensed by the sensing means so that any degree of the undesirable conditions can be eliminated by the proper amount of the flow in the liquid jet.

Claim 22

The device of claim 16 wherein the sensing means and the control means comprise a centrifugal-force-actuating means capable of sensing and controlling centrifugal forces on the vehicle when the vehicle is making a turn.

Claim 23

The device of claim 16 wherein the vehicle is a marine craft, and the sensing means comprises a gyrosystem, and wherein the flow in the jet is regulated in accordance with signal pressure as sensed by the gyrosystem which is responsive to the depth of the marine craft, thereby to maintain the center of gravity of the marine craft substantially at a prespecified depth below the water surface.

Claim 24

A marine craft of the type having at least one said hydrofoil having a round leading edge and a trailing edge of finite curvature, discharge jet flow means in the trailing edge disposed along the hydrofoil at approximately the calculated stagnation line, substantially in the direction of the dividing stream sheet, and means for discharging liquid from said jet flow means for increasing the coefficient of lift of said hydrofoil.

Claim 25

A marine craft of the type having at least one said hydrofoil having a round leading edge and a trailing edge of finite curvature, discharge jet flow means in the trailing edge disposed along the hydrofoil at approximately the calculated stagnation line, substantially in the direction of the dividing stream sheet, and means for discharging liquid from said jet flow means for increasing the coefficient of lift of said hydrofoil.

Claim 26

The device of claim 23 including means for varying the angle of jet discharge of said liquid in the plane of cross section of the hydrofoil.