Variable-pitch annular propeller and cross-domain aircraft

Abstract

The invention provides a variable-pitch annular propeller and a cross-domain aircraft, and belongs to the field of cross-domain aircrafts.The variable-pitch annular propeller comprises a propeller hub, annular blades and a movable base; two connecting parts are arranged on the peripheral surfaces of the annular blades and the propeller hub, the two connecting parts are positioned on the same radial section of the propeller hub and are respectively set as a first blade root and a second blade root, and the annular blades are made of an elastic material and can be distorted and deformed; at least two pairs of movable bases are embedded in the peripheral surface of the propeller hub; each pair of movable bases is connected with the first blade root and the second blade root correspondingly, the movable bases drive the first blade root and the second blade root to synchronously rotate axially relative to the propeller hub in the radial direction of the propeller hub, the annular propeller blades are twisted and deformed, and the screw pitches of the annular propeller blades are changed. The two blade roots of the annular propeller can rotate relative to the propeller hub, so that the aircraft can automatically adjust the pitch of the annular propeller according to the medium where the aircraft is located, and the propelling efficiency and acoustic performance of the annular propeller in different media are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of cross-domain vehicles, and in particular to a variable-pitch annular propeller and a cross-domain vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Traditional propeller designs are usually optimized for a single medium. For example, there are significant differences in the structure and performance of underwater propellers and aviation propellers. However, with the development of cross-domain vehicles (such as underwater aircraft, amphibious aircraft, etc.), higher requirements are placed on propulsion devices, that is, they need to have good propulsion efficiency in both air and water, and be able to flexibly adjust in different media to adapt to environmental changes. Traditional propulsion devices usually adopt a fixed pitch design, which cannot achieve efficient propulsion in different media, and is prone to generate large noise and vibration during the medium switching process. Chinese patent CN115783246A discloses a variable pitch propeller. By changing the inclination angle of the blade and the rotating plane, the single blade of the propeller has a variable pitch function and is adapted to a variety of application scenarios.

[0003] Annular propellers can improve propulsion efficiency and reduce noise by weakening the tip vortex and hub vortex through a special blade structure. They have been applied in the fields of shipbuilding and aviation and are a promising development direction for cross-media propulsion technology. At present, annular propellers and hubs usually have two blade roots, because the blades of annular propellers can be regarded as two single blades connected at the blade tip. One type of annular propeller has two blade roots located on the same radial surface of the hub. For different speed conditions of the vehicle and the environmental medium in which the vehicle is located, the orientation or design parameters of the leading and trailing edges of the annular propeller need to be adjusted according to the situation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an annular propeller propulsion technology that can adapt to a variety of media environments and has a variable pitch function. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes a variable-pitch annular propeller and a cross-domain vehicle to solve the problem that there is currently no annular propeller with a variable pitch function that can adapt to various media environments.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows: the present invention provides a variable-pitch annular propeller, comprising a hub, annular blades and a movable base; the hub rotates along its axial direction; at least two annular blades are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the hub around the axial direction of the hub; the annular blades and the outer peripheral surface of the hub have two connection parts, the two connection parts are located on the same radial section of the hub and are respectively set as the first blade root and the second blade root, the annular blades are made of elastic material and can be twisted and deformed; at least two pairs of movable bases are buried in the outer peripheral surface of the hub; each pair of movable bases is respectively connected to the first blade root and the second blade root, and the movable base drives the first blade root and the second blade root to rotate synchronously along the radial direction of the hub relative to the hub, and causes the annular blades to twist and deform and change the pitch of the annular blades.

[0006] On the basis of the above technical scheme, preferably, the hub includes a shell, a fixed ring and a movable ring; the shell is a hollow cylinder; the fixed ring is sleeved in the shell; the movable ring is coaxially sleeved in the fixed ring and rotates relative to the fixed ring axis, and a sliding groove is provided on the outer wall of the movable ring, and the extension direction of the sliding groove is inclined relative to the axial direction of the movable ring; one end of the movable base extends outward through the shell, and the first blade root or the second blade root is provided on the outer end of the movable base, and the other end of the movable base passes through the inner wall of the fixed ring and approaches the outer wall of the movable ring, and a sliding pin is eccentrically provided on the end face of the movable base facing the movable ring, and the free end of the sliding pin is inserted in the sliding groove.

[0007] More preferably, it also includes a telescopic drive mechanism, a spur rack and an arc rack; the telescopic drive mechanism is arranged on the ring side of the fixed ring; the spur rack is connected to the telescopic drive mechanism and moves along the tangential direction of the movable ring under the drive of the telescopic drive mechanism; the arc rack is arranged on the ring side of the movable ring and cooperates with the spur rack.

[0008] More preferably, the annular blade has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the first blade root is close to the leading edge and the second blade root is close to the trailing edge; the rotation directions of the first blade root and the second blade root are the same or opposite.

[0009] Further preferably, when the rotation directions of the first blade root and the second blade root are the same, the two sliding grooves corresponding to the first blade root and the second blade root both extend from the leading edge toward the trailing edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring, and the sliding pin in the initial state is located at the end of the sliding groove facing the trailing edge.

[0010] More preferably, the rotation angle of the second blade root is not less than the rotation angle of the first blade root.

[0011] Further preferably, when the rotation directions of the first blade root and the second blade root are opposite, the two slide grooves corresponding to the second blade root both extend from the trailing edge toward the guide edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring, and the two slide grooves corresponding to the second blade root both extend from the guide edge toward the following edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring.

[0012] More preferably, the two sliding grooves are mirror-symmetrical along the dynamic ring, and the rotation angles of the first blade root and the second blade root are the same.

[0013] On the basis of the above technical solution, preferably, a slot is provided on the connecting surface between the movable base and the annular blade, and the movable base is detachably connected to the first blade root or the second blade root through the slot.

[0014] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a cross-domain vehicle, which adopts the above-mentioned variable-pitch annular propeller.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the variable pitch annular propeller and cross-domain vehicle of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0016] Beneficial effects:

[0017] (1) The present invention enables the two blade roots of the annular propeller to rotate relative to the hub, thereby driving the elastic torsional deformation of the annular blades and changing the pitch angle of the annular blades, so that the aircraft can automatically adjust the pitch of the annular propeller according to the medium in which it is located, thereby improving the propulsion efficiency and acoustic performance of the annular propeller in different media, thereby improving the flexibility and adaptability of navigation, and weakening the lamellar vortex trail unique to the annular propeller, thereby achieving the purpose of further improving propulsion efficiency and reducing noise.

[0018] (2) The present invention achieves the purpose of adjusting the blade pitch by driving the roots of each blade to rotate synchronously at the same time by relative rotation of the fixed ring and the movable ring disposed inside and outside the blade, and by driving the movable ring to rotate by cooperating with the straight rack and the arc rack so that the movable ring can rotate back and forth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0020] Figure 1 A top view of the annular propeller of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 A perspective view of a fixed ring of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a radial cross-sectional view of the hub of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0024] Figure 5 is an axial cross-sectional view of the hub of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 For the present invention Figure 5 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the pitch-changing principle of the annular propeller of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a pitch-changing principle diagram of another embodiment of the annular propeller of the present invention.

[0028] In the figure: 1. hub; 11. casing; 12. fixed ring; 13. movable ring; 101. slide groove; 2. annular blade; 21. first blade root; 22. second blade root; 3. movable base; 31. slide pin; 301. slot; 4. telescopic drive mechanism; 5. straight rack; 6. arc rack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following will be combined with the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, combined Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 A variable-pitch annular propeller of the present invention includes a hub 1, annular blades 2 and a movable base 3.

[0031] The propeller hub 1 rotates along its axial direction. The propeller hub 1 is mounted on the drive shaft of the aircraft. The drive shaft drives the propeller hub 1 and the annular blades 2 arranged thereon to rotate. The medium in the aircraft flows along the axial direction of the propeller hub 1 from the front to the rear of the aircraft, thereby generating propulsion.

[0032] At least two annular blades 2 are arranged axially around the hub 1 on the outer peripheral surface of the hub 1; the annular blades 2 have two connection points with the outer peripheral surface of the hub 1, and the two connection points are located on the same radial section of the hub 1 and are respectively set as the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22. The annular blades 2 are made of elastic material and can be twisted and deformed. The annular propeller of this embodiment is mainly used for cross-domain navigation drones. The annular blades 2 can be made of elastic plastic material or elastic polymer material. Therefore, when any blade root of the annular blade 2 is rotated by the movable base 3, the blade body of the annular blade 2 can be elastically torsionally deformed without being broken or damaged.

[0033] At least two pairs of movable bases 3 are buried in the outer circumferential surface of the hub 1; each pair of movable bases 3 is connected to the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 respectively, and the movable base 3 drives the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 to rotate synchronously along the radial direction of the hub 1 relative to the hub 1, and causes the annular blade 2 to twist and deform and change the pitch of the annular blade 2. When any blade root of the annular blade 2 rotates driven by the movable base 3, the aircraft adjusts the orientation of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the annular blade 2 according to different navigation speeds, thereby weakening the lamellar vortex wake unique to the annular propeller (especially when the blade root close to the trailing edge rotates, the lamellar vortex wake will be affected), so as to achieve the purpose of improving propulsion efficiency and reducing noise; at the same time, the rotation of the blade root of the annular blade 2 changes the pitch angle of the annular blade, so that the aircraft can automatically adjust the pitch angle of the annular blade 2 according to the medium in which it is located (the pitch angle refers to the inclination degree of the blade at a certain rotation radius of the propeller, and the pitch angle is different at different rotation radii), so that the pitch of the spiral line generated by the rotation of the annular propeller changes, thereby improving the propulsion efficiency and acoustic performance of the annular propeller in different media, and thus improving the flexibility and adaptability of navigation.

[0034] exist Figure 4 In a preferred embodiment shown, the hub 1 includes a housing 11 , a fixed ring 12 and a movable ring 13 .

[0035] Specifically, the housing 11 is a hollow cylinder, with end plates at both ends, and another hollow cylinder with a smaller inner diameter sleeved in the middle of the hollow cylinder, through which the propeller hub 1 can be sleeved and installed on the aircraft drive shaft.

[0036] The fixed ring 12 is sleeved in the housing 11. A gap is left between the outer wall of the fixed ring 12 and the inner wall of the housing 11. The fixed ring 12 and the housing 11 can be provided with a limiter or a fastener to fix the fixed ring 12 in the housing 11.

[0037] The rotating ring 13 is coaxially mounted within the fixed ring 12 and rotates relative to the fixed ring 12. A sliding groove 101 is defined on the outer wall of the rotating ring 13, extending at an angle relative to the axial direction of the rotating ring 13. A bearing is also positioned between the rotating ring 13 and the fixed ring. The inner diameter of the rotating ring 13 is larger than the small inner diameter hollow cylinder of the housing 11, so the small inner diameter hollow cylinder is inserted into the rotating ring 13.

[0038] One end of the movable base 3 extends outward through the housing 11, and the first blade root 21 or the second blade root 22 is provided on the outer end of the movable base 3. The other end of the movable base 3 penetrates the inner wall of the fixed ring 12 and approaches the outer wall of the movable ring 13. A bushing or shaft sleeve is installed between the movable base 3, the housing 11, and the fixed ring 12. A bearing is provided between the movable base 3 and the shaft sleeve to enable the movable base 3 to rotate smoothly. A sliding pin 31 is eccentrically provided on the end face of the movable base 3 facing the movable ring 13, and the free end of the sliding pin 31 is inserted into the sliding groove 101. When the movable ring 13 rotates a certain angle, the sliding groove 101 will deviate from its previous position, which will drive the sliding pin 31 to move along the sliding groove 101 and also deviate from its original position, thereby driving the movable base 3 and the blade root mounted thereon to rotate axially.

[0039] exist Figure 3 In the preferred embodiment shown, it further includes a telescopic drive mechanism 4, a straight rack 5 and an arc rack 6.

[0040] The telescopic drive mechanism 4 is arranged on the ring side surface of the fixed ring 12. The telescopic drive mechanism 4 can adopt a telescopic gas rod, a hydraulic cylinder or a nitrogen cylinder.

[0041] The spur rack 5 is connected to the telescopic drive mechanism 4 and moves along the tangential direction of the moving ring 13 when driven by the telescopic drive mechanism 4 .

[0042] The arcuate rack 6 is mounted on the side of the movable ring 13. Its outer surface is toothed and engages with the spur rack 5. When the telescopic drive mechanism 4 extends, it drives the spur rack 5 to move synchronously and causes the arcuate rack 6 to rotate about the central axis of the movable ring 13, thus causing the movable ring 13 to rotate synchronously. Conversely, when the telescopic drive mechanism 4 extends, the movable ring 13 rotates in the opposite direction, causing the movable base 3 to rotate in the same direction.

[0043] exist Figure 7In a preferred embodiment shown, the annular blade 2 has a leading edge and a trailing edge, with the first blade root 21 being close to the leading edge and the second blade root 22 being close to the trailing edge. The first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 rotate in the same or opposite directions. Because the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 are located on the same radial section of the hub 1, when the annular propeller rotates, the leading edge of the first blade root 21 becomes the leading edge of the annular blade 2, while the trailing edge of the second blade root 22 becomes the trailing edge of the annular blade 2. The movable bases 3 of the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 are located on the same dynamic ring 13 and are driven thereby to rotate simultaneously, thereby improving the lamellar vortex wake unique to annular propellers.

[0044] exist Figure 7 In a preferred embodiment shown, when the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 rotate in the same direction, the two corresponding chute grooves 101 of the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 both extend from the leading edge toward the trailing edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring 13. In the initial state, the sliding pin 31 is located at the end of the chute 101 facing the trailing edge. By simultaneously changing the orientation of the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22, the inflow and outflow conditions of the medium in which the vehicle is located can be adjusted, thereby improving the propulsion efficiency and acoustic performance of the propeller.

[0045] exist Figure 7 In a preferred embodiment shown, the rotation angle of the second blade root 22 is no less than that of the first blade root 21. The rotation angle of the second blade root 22 near the trailing edge of the annular blade 2 is greater, which can meet the pitch variation requirements for improving the annular propeller's lamellar vortex wake at different vehicle speeds.

[0046] exist Figure 8 In a preferred embodiment shown, when the rotation directions of the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 are opposite, the two sliding grooves 101 corresponding to the second blade root 22 both extend from the trailing edge toward the guide edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring 13, and the two sliding grooves 101 corresponding to the second blade root 22 both extend from the guide edge toward the following edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring 13, thereby achieving the goal of driving the two movable bases 3 of the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 to rotate in opposite directions at the same time through the rotation of the same dynamic ring 13.

[0047] exist Figure 8 In a preferred embodiment shown, the two slide grooves 101 are mirror-symmetrical along the dynamic ring 13, and the first blade root 21 and the second blade root 22 rotate at the same angle, so that the leading edge and the trailing edge of the annular blade rotate symmetrically to improve the lamellar vortex trail of the annular propeller.

[0048] exist Figure 2In a preferred embodiment shown, a slot 301 is defined on the connection surface between the movable base 3 and the annular blade 2. The movable base 3 is detachably connected to the first blade root 21 or the second blade root 22 via the slot 301. Specifically, the slot 301 is continuous at both ends. A latch block is provided on the contact surface between the front blade root 21 or the rear blade root 22 and the movable base 3. The latch block slides and engages within the slot 301. Because the movable base 3 is embedded within the housing 11, the housing 11 blocks the slot 301, preventing the latch block from disengaging.

[0049] A cross-domain vehicle of the present invention adopts a variable-pitch annular propeller according to any of the above embodiments.

[0050] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A variable pitch annular propeller, characterized in that: It comprises a propeller hub (1), an annular propeller blade (2) and a movable base (3); The hub (1) rotates along its axial direction; At least two of the annular blades (2) are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the hub (1) in an axial direction around the hub (1); the annular blade (2) and the outer peripheral surface of the hub (1) have two connection parts, the two connection parts are located on the same radial section of the hub (1) and are respectively set as a first blade root (21) and a second blade root (22); the annular blade (2) is made of elastic material and can be twisted and deformed; At least two pairs of movable bases (3) are embedded in the outer peripheral surface of the hub (1); each pair of movable bases (3) is connected to the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22), respectively. The movable bases (3) drive the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22) to rotate synchronously along the radial direction of the hub (1) relative to the hub (1), and cause the annular blade (2) to be twisted and deformed and change the pitch of the annular blade (2).

2. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hub (1) comprises a housing (11), a fixed ring (12) and a movable ring (13); The housing (11) is a hollow cylinder; The fixed ring (12) is sleeved in the housing (11); The movable ring (13) is coaxially sleeved in the fixed ring (12) and rotates relative to the fixed ring (12). A sliding groove (101) is provided on the outer wall of the movable ring (13). The extending direction of the sliding groove (101) is inclined relative to the axial direction of the movable ring (13). One end of the movable base (3) extends outward through the shell (11), and a first blade root (21) or a second blade root (22) is provided on the outer end of the movable base (3). The other end of the movable base (3) passes through the inner wall of the fixed ring (12) and approaches the outer wall of the movable ring (13). A sliding pin (31) is eccentrically provided on the end face of the movable base (3) facing the movable ring (13), and the free end of the sliding pin (31) is inserted into the sliding groove (101).

3. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a telescopic drive mechanism (4), a straight rack (5) and an arc rack (6); The telescopic driving mechanism (4) is arranged on the ring side surface of the fixed ring (12); The spur rack (5) is connected to the telescopic drive mechanism (4) and moves along the tangential direction of the moving ring (13) under the drive of the telescopic drive mechanism (4); The arc rack (6) is arranged on the side surface of the movable ring (13) and matches with the straight rack (5).

4. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 2, characterized in that: The annular blade (2) has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the first blade root (21) is close to the leading edge and the second blade root (22) is close to the trailing edge; the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22) have the same or opposite rotation directions.

5. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22) rotate in the same direction, the two sliding grooves (101) corresponding to the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22) both extend from the leading edge toward the trailing edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring (13), and the sliding pin (31) in the initial state is located at one end of the sliding groove (101) facing the trailing edge.

6. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rotation angle of the second blade root (22) is not less than the rotation angle of the first blade root (21).

7. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the rotation directions of the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22) are opposite, the two slide grooves (101) corresponding to the second blade root (22) both extend from the trailing edge toward the guiding edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring (13), and the two slide grooves (101) corresponding to the second blade root (22) both extend from the guiding edge toward the trailing edge along the rotation direction of the dynamic ring (13).

8. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 7, characterized in that: The two sliding grooves (101) are mirror-symmetrical along the dynamic ring (13), and the first blade root (21) and the second blade root (22) have the same rotation angle.

9. The variable pitch annular propeller according to claim 1, characterized in that: A slot (301) is provided on the connection surface between the movable base (3) and the annular blade (2), and the movable base (3) is detachably connected to the first blade root (21) or the second blade root (22) via the slot (301).

10. A cross-domain vehicle, characterized by: A variable-pitch annular propeller according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is used.

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