Moving blade propulsion device

Abstract

The invention is a device for propelling a vehicle such as a wheel or a track, comprising one or more moving parts called blades which can change position to move from a position allowing propulsion on the ground to a position ensuring propulsion in a fluid. The main applications are land vehicles which can travel both on roads and on uneven or muddy ground and sail on water or, in certain versions, take off and land vertically and fly in all directions, as well as a boat, a submarine or an aircraft which can land on a beach or roll on shallows.

Description

Title of the invention: Propulsion device with moving blades Technical field

[0001] The invention is a vehicle propulsion device which can adapt to the environment on or in which this vehicle moves. Prior art

[0002] CN107962922A of April 27, 2018 by CUI JIE, LI QIAN, QIAO YANXIN, WANG YI, CHANG QI, ZHUANG CHENYI, SUN HONGLAI, CHEN ZHIPENG and CHEN YANG is known, which describes a track provided with a plurality of paddles arranged on the outer end faces of the tracks and which provide propulsion for an amphibious vehicle in water. These paddles are permanently perpendicular to the outer faces of the tracks, so that they are not well suited to the movement of the vehicle on hard ground.

[0003] We also know CN108422821 (A) of August 21, 2018 by SUN SHILIANG which describes a similar device, which has the same drawback.

[0004] We also know CN110733305 (A) of January 31, 2020 by WANG XINGBO, LI XINYU and ZHANG SIMING which describes a blade comprising a plurality of flexible blades ensuring the propulsion of a vehicle in water, but which is also poorly suited to the movement of a vehicle on hard ground.

[0005] We also know US 10259280 (B 1) of April 16, 2019 by ROE RICHARD DARIN [US] which describes a vehicle equipped with wheels allowing it to roll on ground, which have blades on their lateral part to ensure the propulsion of the vehicle on water, but the efficiency of the drive on water of this device is low.

[0006] We also know BRI 12023023953 (A2) of January 30, 2024 by HOFREITHER KLEMENS [AT] and KINAST LUKAS [AT] which describes an aircraft equipped with two rotating propulsion devices for generating a thrust vector each comprising blades whose periodic adjustment creates a thrust vector normal to the axis of rotation of the rotor. Such propulsion devices are often called cyclorotors.

[0007] Finally, RU2060203 (Cl) of May 20, 1996 by FEDCHISHIN VITALIJ G [RU] is known, which describes a device comprising such cyclorotors ensuring the propulsion of a ship which has a means of accessing a flat shore by the support of drums of propulsion discs which can roll along an underwater plane. Technical problem

[0008] The devices described above do not allow a vehicle to be ensured as good a quality ride on hard ground as is permitted with wheels or tracks, water propulsion or efficient flight based on the principle of paddle wheels or cyclorotors. Brief description of the drawings

[0009] The invention will be well understood, and other aims, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, which is illustrated by Figures 1 to 7.

[0010] [Fig-1] is a side view of a tracked vehicle, the blades of which are in a so-called propulsion position on the ground.

[0011] [Fig.2] is a side view of the same tracked vehicle, the blades of which are in a so-called propulsion position in a fluid. We can see that they protrude from the lower part of the track to provide resistance to the fluid.

[0012] [Fig.3] is a side view of a wheel in three different configurations, the blades oriented differently depending on the direction of rolling. The left and right blades are in the propulsion position in a fluid, in one direction of rolling or the other, while the central one is in the propulsion position on the ground.

[0013] [Fig.4] is a side view of a vehicle fitted with the wheels according to [Fig.3], rolling in forward movement on the road.

[0014] [Fig.5] is a side view of the same vehicle fitted with the wheels according to [Fig.3], always moving forward, whose blades are in a so-called propulsion position in a fluid because it rolls on muddy terrain.

[0015] [Fig.6] is a side view of the same vehicle, in the same configuration as that shown in [Fig.5] but which navigates on water.

[0016] [Fig.7] is a side view of a wheel whose blades can slide to pass from a propulsion position on the ground to a propulsion position in a fluid. Statement of the invention

[0017] The invention is a device for propelling a vehicle such as a wheel or a track, characterized in that it comprises at least one mobile part called a blade which can move to pass from a so-called propulsion position on the ground to a so-called propulsion position in a fluid. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] The principle of the present invention is to provide the raceway of a wheel or track of a vehicle with movable portions which can serve as blades for its propulsion in a fluid, whether mud, water or air. These movable parts are hereinafter and hereinafter referred to as blades.

[0019] Such a blade can tilt around an axis different from the direction of movement of said vehicle to move from a so-called propulsion position on the ground to a so-called propulsion position in a fluid. Advantageously, this axis is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle. It can also advantageously be horizontal.

[0020] The same principle applies without difficulty to a caterpillar.

[0021] The blade can also slide in a radial housing as shown in [Fig.7] to fit into the volume of the wheel on hard ground, but come out and act as a propulsion blade when the vehicle is traveling on muddy ground or navigating in water.

[0022] It is advantageous for the position of said blades to vary between the so-called propulsion position on the ground and the so-called propulsion position in a fluid, depending on their position during the advancement of the vehicle. They may, for example, be substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle in the lower part of the propulsion device and parallel to this direction of movement in the upper part of the propulsion device. This differentiates them from the old paddle wheels, the upper part of which could hit waves, which opposed the advancement of the boat. Advantageously, the blades retract inside the volume of the wheel or the track in their upper position, as can be seen in the figures, to limit their size but above all to avoid resisting the fluid that they might encounter. Those skilled in the art have many known means for achieving this.

[0023] In the case where the propulsion device is a wheel, a blade may be a portion of this wheel which can pivot around an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

[0024] Figures 3 to 6 show a particular wheel whose blades can be mounted on a wheel comprising a tire. These blades are preferably flexible, and include the tire raceway which can therefore be free of it. It is possible to have different types of blades more particularly adapted to different environments such as asphalt or earth, or mud, snow, ice or water. These blades are advantageously easily removable so that they can be replaced quickly.

[0025] The blades shown in these 4 figures are positioned differently depending on whether they propel the vehicle forward or backward. The person skilled in the art has many means at his disposal to achieve this.

[0026] In the case in which the propulsion device is a track, a blade may be a portion of this track which can pivot around an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of one of said wheels supporting said track.

[0027] Advantageously, the propulsion device is provided with a means of determining the position of the blades according to different rules to adapt to the environment on or in which the vehicle is moving.

[0028] The user or a computer can choose to keep them permanently in the so-called propulsion position on the ground when the vehicle is rolling on the ground, and to cyclically move from this position to a so-called propulsion position in a fluid when navigating on water. Blade positioning rules can be chosen depending on the nature of the terrain, which can be analyzed by computer to determine the most appropriate rule.

[0029] The optimal position of each blade can also be obtained by very simple mechanical means. A blade can for example be maintained in said propulsion position in a fluid by an elastic return, the resistance of the ground or the fluid on which the vehicle is moving being able to modify this position to bring it closer to the so-called propulsion position on the ground. This makes it possible to travel on irregular surfaces such as uneven ground or shallows.

[0030] All means known to those skilled in the art familiar with cyclorotor technologies, which make it possible to vary the position of the blades as a function of their position in the cycle, can be implemented.

[0031] A blade advantageously comprises only a portion limited to the raceway of said propulsion device, that is to say to the part of this device which can actually come into contact with the ground. This makes it possible, for example, to continue to benefit from the flexibility of a tire in the case where the propulsion device is a wheel.

[0032] Mechanical means may be provided so that when the blades automatically move into the ground propulsion position when the force exerted by the propulsion device on the chassis of the vehicle exceeds a certain value, the blades automatically move into the ground propulsion position when the vehicle hits an obstacle located underwater.

[0033] The invention is also a vehicle equipped with a propulsion device according to the invention described above.

[0034] It is also the method of propelling a vehicle by a propulsion device according to the invention described above. Applications

[0035] The main applications of the present invention are land vehicles that can travel on roads as well as on uneven or muddy ground and sail on water or in certain versions take off and land vertically and fly in all directions, as a boat, a submarine or an aircraft that can land on a beach or drive on shallows. These vehicles can be used for leisure or work but also for military combat. They can be piloted by humans or be drones.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for propelling a vehicle such as a wheel or a track, characterized in that it comprises at least one mobile part called a blade which can move to pass from a so-called propulsion position on the ground to a so-called propulsion position in a fluid.

2. Propulsion device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises at least one movable part called a blade which can tilt around an axis different from the direction of movement of said vehicle to pass from said propulsion position on the ground to said propulsion position in a fluid.

3. Propulsion device according to claim 2 characterized in that said blade is a portion of wheel capable of pivoting around an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel.

4. Propulsion device according to claim 2 characterized in that said blade is a portion of track capable of pivoting around an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of one of said wheels supporting said track.

5. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of said blades varies between said propulsion position on the ground and said propulsion position in a fluid, depending on their position during the advancement of the vehicle.

6. Propulsion device according to claim 5 characterized in that it is provided with a means of determining the position of said blades according to different rules to adapt to the environment on or in which said vehicle moves.

7. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blade only comprises a portion limited to the rolling path of said propulsion device, that is to say to the part of this device which can actually come into contact with the ground.

8. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maintenance of said blade in said propulsion position in a fluid is ensured by an elastic return, the resistance of the ground or of the fluid on which it moves being able to modify this position to bring it closer to the so-called propulsion position on the ground.

9.

10. Vehicle equipped with a propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims A method of propelling a vehicle by a propulsion device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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