Variable geometry cyclorotor

Abstract

The invention is a cyclorotor whose wing gyration radius can vary to transition from a resting position to different working positions, thus significantly increasing its power while maintaining a small footprint when not in use or when low power is sufficient. The main applications are vehicles traveling on or in fluids, and means of producing electrical energy from the movement of a fluid, such as wind turbines or hydro turbines. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Variable geometry cyclorotor technical field

[0001] The invention is a cyclorotor, also called a cycloidal rotor or cycloidal thruster.

[0002] In a first mode of use, it is a propulsion device that converts the power of a shaft into the acceleration of a fluid (air or water) using several wings oriented parallel to the axis of rotation and perpendicular to the direction of fluid movement. The wings cyclically change their angle of attack twice per revolution to produce a force (thrust or lift) in any direction normal to the axis of rotation.

[0003] A cyclorotor can also be used as a means of transforming a fluid current into rotational energy, for example to generate electricity. Previous technique

[0004] The patents of the original inventor of the cyclorotors, Ernst Schneider, are known: CA274183(A) of September 27, 1927, US1681500(A) of August 21, 1928, AT111750(B) of December 27, 1928 and US1823169(A) of September 15, 1931. These cyclorotors have wings that make them rotate when they cross the wind's path, while the wings orient themselves parallel to the wind when they go down or up the wind's path.

[0005] We know of WO2023152657A1 of August 17, 2023 by ETIENNE MEAR which describes another way of using cyclorotors: the wings reduce their wind resistance when they go upwind, and increase the wind resistance when they go downwind.

[0006] We know of US 1730758 (A) of October 8, 1929 by EDWARD CALDWELL JONATHAN which describes an aircraft equipped with two cyclorotors.

[0007] We know of BRI 12023023953 (A2) of January 30, 2024 from HOFREITHER KLE-MENS [AT] and KINAST LUKAS [AT] which also describes such an aircraft.

[0008] We know of EP3715249 (A2) of September 30, 2020 from CYCLOTECH GMBH [AT] which describes a means of controlling the wings of such an aircraft. Technical problem

[0009] The power of a cyclorotor depends less on the total surface area of ​​the wings than on the area swept by the rotor.

[0010] Prior art cyclorotors, however, sweep a limited area, either for reasons of bulk (for example to propel aircraft or boats), or to withstand storms (for example for wind turbines).

[0011] The objective of the present invention is to be able to increase the power and efficiency of cyclorotors, without having these disadvantages, or what is equivalent, to equip them with a means of reducing their bulk and protecting them in case of bad weather or non-use. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The invention will be well understood, and other objects, advantages and features thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the description which follows, which is illustrated by figures 1 to 7.

[0013] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of two cyclorotors according to the invention, that of The left one is in the folded position, and the right one in the deployed position. The wings 21 22 23 and following are telescopic and longer on the right cyclorotor than on the left one; the front arms 81 82 83 and following and the rear arms 91 92 93 and following are also telescopic.

[0014] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of two cyclorotors according to the invention, which show how to fold the wings, the one on the right being in the folded configuration.

[0015] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of six cyclorotors according to the invention, which can rise up along a pole. From left to right we see the first in the lowered position for maintenance, the second in the upper position in operation, and the following ones gradually closing until only the weatherproof cover 1001 of the cyclorotor is visible, which, detached from the pole, is easy to transport.

[0016] [Fig.4] is a geometric figure that illustrates the general operation of a A variable-geometry cyclorotor whose deployment is ensured by a purely mechanical assembly. The main shaft 10, labeled O, drives elements 71, 72, and following, called bars, in a counter-clockwise direction via arms called front arms 101, 102, and following. The angle of incidence of the bars is determined by the arms called rear arms 111, 112 of the secondary shaft, labeled V. The bars, in turn, drive the wings 21, 22, and following via front arms 81 and 91 and rear arms 82 and 92. The quadrilaterals ABCD are deformable and have equal sides from one quadrilateral to the next, so that a change in the angle of incidence of the bars is transmitted to the wings.

[0017] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of three variable diameter wheel mechanisms allowing the distance between the main shaft's axis of rotation and the wings to be mechanically varied. The left one is extended and the right one is folded. This wheel is described in numerous variations in the aforementioned document WO2014068202 (Al).

[0018] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of five cyclorotors according to the invention equipped with its wings and a means for cyclic variation of the wing incidence comprising a shaft called secondary shaft 40 equipped with rear arms 41, 42 and following determining the incidence wings. The three upper cyclorotors gradually move from the deployed position to the folded position, while on those at the bottom we see the difference in incidence of the six wings depending on the position of the secondary shaft 40.

[0019] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of other types of mechanisms allowing to The two cyclorotors at the top of the figure determine the radius of rotation of the front arm mountings, using two superimposed devices: the lower device determines the radius of rotation by the inclination of arms 101, 102, and following arms, and the upper device ensures the verticality of the axes around which the wings are fixed. The mechanism of the third cyclorotor, located at the bottom of the figure, is equipped with the secondary shaft 40 and its arms.

[0020] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a cyclorotor according to the invention, of which the wing 32 has taken a concave shape because it descends into the wind bed while the wing 23 has taken a straight shape because it ascends into the wind bed. Description of the invention

[0021] The invention is a cyclorotor (1) comprising a shaft (10) called the main shaft and wings (21, 22 and following) rotating around said main shaft, characterized in that the distance between the axis of rotation of said main shaft and said wings is variable, it being specified that above we mean by cyclorotor a device converting the rotation of a shaft called the main shaft into the movement of a fluid or the movement of a fluid into the rotation of a shaft called the main shaft by means of several wings rotating around an axis of rotation inclined at more than 60 degrees with respect to the direction of said fluid, the angle of incidence of one of said wings with the direction of said fluid being changed cyclically during its rotation around said main shaft. Detailed description of the invention

[0022] In a known version, a cyclorotor comprises, in addition to the main shaft, a secondary shaft whose axis of rotation is parallel to that of the main shaft. The main shaft is connected to the wings by a mechanical linkage called the front arm, and the secondary shaft is connected to the wings by a mechanical linkage called the rear arm. The two functions of driving the wings and selecting their angle of attack can be performed by the front or rear arms, or simultaneously by a combination of both. This is irrelevant.

[0023] Advantageously, the front arms are of equal length, and the rear arms are also of equal length. As is widely known to those skilled in the art, the cyclic variation of the angle of incidence of the wings with the direction of the fluid can be ensured by an offset between the axis of rotation of the secondary shaft and that of the main shaft, but the position of the wings can also be determined by any other known means, separately for each of them, for each of their possible positions. taking into account all possible parameters such as the speed and direction of the fluid or vehicle, or the power required.

[0024] The variation of the diameter

[0025] Advantageously, such a cyclorotor is equipped with a means for simultaneously varying the length of the so-called front and rear arms. Those skilled in the art are familiar with numerous methods for designing such a means, such as those described by Franck GUIGAN and Janick Simeray in WO2014068202 (A1) of May 8, 2014, and those described by Vincent Fourdrinier in EP3349993 (A1) of July 25, 2018. They are also familiar with the mechanisms for opening umbrellas, such as the one shown in [Fig. 7], which allow for the simultaneous variation of the distance between the central axis of the umbrella and the tips of its ribs.

[0026] A preferred solution, shown in [Fig. 1], is to use telescopic arms, as this does not limit the possible variation in the radius of gyration of the wings. The length of such arms can be determined pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically, or by cables like those used to extend and retract car radio antennas. The length variation can be the same for all front wings and / or for all rear wings, or specific to each possible position of each arm.

[0027] The variation in wing width

[0028] Another improvement consists of equipping the cyclorotor with a means of varying the width of the wings, that is to say, the distance between their leading edge and their trailing edge. One can take inspiration from the flaps of aircraft wings for this purpose, but those skilled in the art know of many other means.

[0029] The variation in wing length

[0030] A cyclorotor can also be equipped with a means of varying the dimensions of its wings in their other dimension, their length. All means of modifying or reducing sail area used on sailboats can be employed within the framework of the present invention, such as roller pylon buoys. Inflatable sails, such as the one described in WO2022248812A1 of 01 / 12 / 2022, are also particularly well-suited to varying the wing length of cyclorotors according to the invention.

[0031] This means can also consist of the use of telescopic wings like those fitted to the right-hand cyclorotor in [Fig.1].

[0032] The variation in wing curvature

[0033] The wings can be rigid or flexible. They can also be thin like boat sails or thick for better efficiency.

[0034] All known means of varying the camber and / or twist of boat sails or aircraft wings can be used to modify the shape of the wings without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0035] It is also possible to vary the camber of the wing so that it best adapts to its position relative to the wind direction. Thus, as shown in [Fig. 8], a wing can take on a concave shape when it descends into the wind and a straight shape when it ascends into the wind.

[0036] Advantageously, a wing can camber more in one direction than in the opposite direction.

[0037] The resting position

[0038] Advantageously, when the length of the arms is minimal, the wings can be oriented radially or almost as shown in [Fig.2], in a so-called resting position in which the bulk of the cyclorotor is minimal.

[0039] The multiplication of the wings

[0040] It is possible to arrange several wings parallel to each other on each set of front and rear arms, as described in the aforementioned US6840738 (Bl) document.

[0041] Other aspects of the invention

[0042] The invention also includes the method of generating the movement of a fluid by rotational energy with a cyclorotor according to the invention.

[0043] The invention also includes the method of generating rotational energy by the movement of a fluid with a cyclorotor according to the invention

[0044] The invention is also a land, sea or air vehicle equipped with a cyclorotor according to the present invention.

[0045] The invention is also a rotational energy generator equipped with a cyclorotor according to the invention, for example a wind turbine or a hydro turbine equipped. Applications

[0046] The main applications of the present invention are land, marine and aerial vehicles, as well as wind turbines and hydro turbines.

[0047] Drones and toys also constitute important applications.

[0048] Reference numbers used in drawings - 10: main tree - 21, 22 and following: wings - 4: synchronizer - 40: secondary tree - 41, 42 and following: axes of rotation of the bars with the main shaft - 51, 52 and following: axes of rotation of the bars with the secondary shaft - 71-72 and following: bars - 81, 82 and following: front wing arms - 91, 92 and following: rear wing arms - 101, 102 and following: front connection of the wings by the bars - 111, 112 and following: rear connection of the wings by the bars

Claims

Demands

1. Cyclorotor (1) comprising a shaft (10) called main shaft and wings (21, 22 and following) rotating about said main shaft, characterized in that the distance between the axis of rotation of said main shaft and said wings is variable, it being specified that above means cyclorotor a device converting the rotation of a shaft called main shaft into the movement of a fluid or the movement of a fluid into the rotation of a shaft called main shaft by means of several wings rotating about an axis of rotation inclined at more than 60 degrees with respect to the direction of said fluid, the angle of incidence of one of said wings with the direction of said fluid being changed cyclically during its rotation about said main shaft.

2. Cyclorotor according to claim 1 comprising in addition to said main shaft a shaft called secondary shaft whose axis of rotation is parallel to that of said main shaft, - said main shaft being connected to said wings by mechanical links called front arms (81, 82 and following) - said secondary shaft being connected to said wings by mechanical links called rear arms (91, 82 and following), - said front and rear arms being of equal length, and said rear arms being of equal length, characterized in that it is equipped with a means of simultaneously varying the length of said front and rear arms.

3. Cyclorotor according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that it comprises a means of varying the width of said wing, i.e. the distance between its leading edge and its trailing edge.

4. Cyclorotor according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a means for varying the length of said wing.

5. Cyclorotor according to claim 1 characterized in that said front arms and said rear arms are telescopic.

6. Cyclorotor according to claim 1 characterized in that said wings are telescopic.

7. Vehicle equipped with a cyclorotor according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Rotational energy generator equipped with a cyclorotor according to any one of claims 1 to 6

9. A method for generating rotational energy by the movement of a fluid, by a cyclorotor according to any one of claims 1 to 6

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