Aerodynamic lifting mechanisms

Claim 1

An aircraft comprising: a body with two sides; an engine mounted within said body; means on each side of said body for lifting said aircraft including: a first shaft extending in a horizontal plane and perpendicular to the direction of flight of said aircraft, rotatably mounted and drivable by said engine; first and second toothed pulleys axially spaced apart on and secured to said first shaft for rotation therewith; a second shaft horizontally spaced apart from and extending parallel to said first shaft; first and second rotatable toothed pulleys mounted on said second shaft in co-planar relationship respectively with said first and second pulleys on said first shaft; a first continuous toothed belt connecting said first pulleys and having a plurality of trunnion eyes; a second continuous toothed belt connecting said second pulleys and having a plurality of trunnion eyes; a plurality of sub-shafts rotatably mounted in said trunnion eyes and extending between said first and second belts; an aerofoil mounted on each of said sub-shafts between said first and second belts; an aerofoil mounted on each of said sub-shafts outboard of said second belt; for each of said sub-shafts, a lever having a first end secured to said sub-shaft, each said lever having a second end; a continuous member movably mounted on said body, said continuous member having a contour which substantially follows the contours of said first and second belts; said second ends of said levers being constrained to follow said contours of said continuous member; and a control member, operable by a pilot, operatively connected to said continuous members on each side of said body for moving said continuous member relative to said body and hence to said belts and so varying the angles of attack of said aerofoils relative to airflow past said aircraft.