Wing Flapping Power Transmission Mechanism for Inertial Force Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wing flapping apparatuses experience unstable flight attitudes and reduced motion efficiency due to inertial forces and air resistance fluctuations, which lead to increased load fluctuations on the motive power source.

Innovation Solution

A wing flapping apparatus with a power transmission mechanism that includes a slider for linear reciprocation and a rotating body for orthogonal reciprocation, where the wing unit's distal end moves in the same direction as the slider's linear motion, counteracting inertial forces and using an elastic belt to absorb load fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the wing unit swings in the front-rear direction about the proximal end as the center of rotation, then the distal end moves in the front-rear direction to generate levitation force, but inertial force is generated causing periodical vibrations in the frame body and increasing load fluctuations on the motive power source

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelevitation force generationVSAvoidflight attitude stability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A counterweight is attached to the power transmission mechanism to generate inertial force that opposes the inertial force generated by the wing unit during swinging. This counterbalancing action reduces periodical vibrations in the frame body and stabilizes the flight attitude while maintaining levitation force generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The power transmission mechanism acts as an intermediary between the motive power source and the wing unit, incorporating a slider-crank mechanism that converts rotational motion to reciprocating motion. This intermediary structure allows for the addition of a counterweight that can offset inertial forces while still transmitting the necessary driving force to the wing unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If the wing unit swings with the distal end moving in the front-rear direction, then levitation force is achieved, but air resistance fluctuations are transmitted as load fluctuations to the driving source through the power transmission mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelevitation forceVSAvoidmotion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight attached to the power transmission mechanism not only balances inertial forces but also helps to smooth out load fluctuations caused by air resistance variations during wing swinging. This reduces the peak loads transmitted to the motive power source and improves overall motion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The counterweight provides beforehand cushioning by pre-positioning mass to counteract the upcoming air resistance fluctuations during the wing swinging cycle. This anticipatory balancing reduces the shock and fluctuation transmitted to the driving source, thereby improving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If a conventional power transmission mechanism is used to drive the wing unit, then the wing unit can be actuated, but large load fluctuations are applied to the driving source resulting in deteriorated motion efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewing unit actuationVSAvoidmotion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By attaching a counterweight to the power transmission mechanism, the system balances the reciprocating mass of the wing unit and associated mechanism components. This reduces the net inertial load on the driving source and smooths out torque fluctuations, thereby improving motion efficiency while maintaining ease of wing unit actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration stabilizes the flight attitude, reduces inertial forces, and significantly improves motion efficiency by counteracting inertial forces and absorbing load fluctuations, resulting in smoother wing movement and reduced power source load fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

using an elastic belt to absorb load fluctuations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

linear reciprocation of the slider and swinging of the wing unit in the first direction are opposite in direction to each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS11136117B2Wing flapping apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.10.05 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A wing flapping apparatus including a frame body, a motive power source and a power transmission mechanism that transmits motive power generated in the motive power source to drive a wing unit. Moreover, the power transmission mechanism includes a slider that linearly reciprocates in an X-axis direction upon reception of the motive power transmitted from the motive power source, and a rotating body that reciprocates in a rotation direction upon reception of the motive power transmitted from the slider. Furthermore, the wing unit swings such that its distal end moves approximately in the X-axis direction as the rotating body reciprocates in the rotation direction. In this aspect, linear reciprocation of the slider and swinging of the wing unit in the X-axis direction are opposite in direction to each other.