Directional control apparatus

Abstract

Abstract DIRECTIONAL CONTROL APPARATUS HAVING A STATIONARY OPENCENTERED STEERING OR DIRECTION CONTROLLER WHICH USES THE DYANAMICS OF A FLUID FLOW OVER EXTENSIBLE PORTIONS OF THE CONTROLLER WALL RATHER THAN A BODILY DISPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROLLER ITSELF TO PRODUCE STERRING FORCES IN A FLUID MEDIUM. THE CONTROLLER COMPRISES AN OPEN-ENDED STRUCTURE HAVING THE EITHER AN OPEN OR CLOSED PERIPHERY AND INFLATABLE SECTOR MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTROLLER WALLS TO VARY THE CONFIGURATION THEREOF. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO INFLATE THE SECTORS IN PREDETERMINED PORTIONS OF THE WALL SELECTIVELY TO VARY THE CONFIGURATION OF THE CONTROLLER, THUS CHANGING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLUID FLOW THEREOF SUCH THAT A FORCE THAT CAN BE USED FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IS PRODUCED. INASMUCH AS THIS FORCE CAN BE PRODUCED IN ANY QUADRANT OF THE OPEN-CENTERED CONTROLLER, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE EFFECTED IN PITCH AND ROLL, AS WELL AS YAW. IF ANNULAR SHAPED CONTROLLER IS USED, IT CAN BE EMPLOYED AS THE DUCT FOR A DUCTED FAN OR DUCTED SCREW PROPULSION SYSTEM. BECAUSE THE CONTROLLER USES THE DYNAMICS OF A FLUID FLOW TO PRODUCE A FORCE ON IT PERPENDICULAR TO ITS DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, IT THUS CAN ALSO BE UTILIZED AS AN AIRFOIL OR HYDROFOIL.

Inventors

• 👤 William P Strumbos

Bibliographic Details