Inverting wing propulsion system

Abstract

An inverting wing propulsion system is disclosed. A vehicle body having a left side and a right side is provided with a wing drive assembly. At least two wings are operatively associated with the wing drive. At least one wing extends from each of the right side and the left side of the body. The wings are adapted to be driven by the wing drive assembly to engage in a reciprocating motion between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation. The reciprocating motion is characterized by a downward arcuate motion, where said wings fully extend from the body so as to generate an upward thrust, and by an upward motion, where the wings are retracted so as to produce reduced, minimized or negligible downward thrust.

1 . A reciprocating wing propulsion system for a body, said body having a right side and a left side, said reciprocating wing propulsion system comprising:
 a wing drive assembly associated with said body; and   at least two wings operatively associated with said wing drive assembly, at least one wing extending from each of said right side and said left side of said body, said wings being adapted to be driven by said wing drive assembly to engage in a reciprocating motion between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation, said reciprocating motion being characterized by a downward arcuate motion, during which said wings fully extend from said body so as to generate an upward thrust, and by an upward motion, during which said wings are retracted.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating wing propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein said wings have to symmetrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating wing propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein said wings are adapted to lulls invert during said reciprocating motion, 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating wing propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two wings are synchronized such that said at least one wing extending, from said right side of said body and said at least one wing extending from said left side of said body engage in said downward arcuate motion substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . An inverting wing propulsion system for a body, said body having a right side and a left side, said inverting wing propulsion system comprising:
 a wing drive assembly associated with said body; and   at least two wings operatively associated with said wing drive assembly, at least one wing extending from each of said right side and said left side of said body,   wherein said wings are adapted to be driven by said wing drive assembly to engage in a reciprocating motion between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation,   wherein said reciprocating motion is characterized by a downward arcuate motion, during which said wings fully extend from said body so as to generate an upward thrust, and by an upward vertical motion, during which said wings are retracted, and   wherein said wings fully invert during said reciprocating motion.   
     
     
         6 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 5 , wherein said wings have a symmetrical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The inverting wing propulsion system of chum  5 , wherein said at least two wings are synchronized such that said at least one wing extending from said right side of said body and said at least one wing extending from said left side of said body engage in said downward arcuate motion substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least two wings each comprise a tubular structure having two opposing long flat sides and two opposing short rounded sides. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least two wings each comprise:
 a flat planar portion having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;   flange portions disposed on each of said two opposing long skies of said flat planar portion and co-extending therewith, said flange portions being oriented orthogonally to said flat planar portion, said flange portions each having two opposing long flat sides and two opposing short rounded sides defining a perimeter of each of said flange portions; and   channels disposed within each of said flange portions, said channels extending along an entire perimeter of said flange portions.   
     
     
         12 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 11 , wherein said body further comprises a top side and at least one cross member disposed on said top side, said at least one cross member extending from said left side to said right side of said body and having a left end and a right end,
 wherein said wing drive assembly comprises:
 a motor disposed in said body; 
 a cross member gear disposed within said at least one cross member, said cross member gear being adapted to be driven by said motor; and 
 wing holding frames attached to each of said right end and said left end of said at least one cross member, each of said wing holding frames comprising:
 a gear structure disposed on said wing holding frame, said gear structure being adapted to be driven by said motor via said cross member gear; 
 two drive pulleys disposed on opposing sides of said gear structure, said drive pulleys being adapted to be driven in a rotational direction by said motor via, said cross member gear and said gear structure; 
 two upper guide pulleys disposed on said wing holding frame, each of said upper guide pulleys being associated with one of said drive pulleys; 
 two lower guide pulleys disposed on said wing holding frame, each of said lower guide pulleys being associated with one of said drive pulleys and being positioned on said wing holding frame proximate to one of said upper guide pulleys; and 
 two belts, each of said belts being disposed around one of said drive pulleys and around one of said flange portions of said wing within said channel, each of said belts further engaging one of said upper guide pulleys and one of said lower guide pulleys, 
 
   wherein one of said at least two wings is attached to said wing holding frame proximate to said upper and lower guide pulleys by said belts, and   wherein said belts are driven in said rotational direction by said drive pulleys and guided by said upper and lower guide pulleys so as to drive said wing in said reciprocating motion,   
     
     
         13 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 12 , wherein outer surfaces of said drive pulleys, inner surfaces of said belts, and bottom surfaces of said channels disposed within said flange portions of said wing all comprise teeth, said teeth on said outer surfaces of said drive pulleys and said inner surfaces of said belts engaging each other to prevent slippage of said belts with respect to said drive pulleys as said belts are being driven by said drive pulleys and said teeth on said inner surfaces of said belts and said bottom surfaces of said channels engaging each other to prevent slippage of said wing with respect to said belts during said reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         14 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least two wings each comprise a flat planar structure having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides. 
     
     
         15 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 14 , wherein said body further comprises a top side and at least one cross member disposed on said top side, said at least one cross member extending front said left side to said right side of said body and having a left end and a right end, wherein said wing drive assembly comprises:
 a motor disposed in said body;   a cross member gear disposed within said at least one cross member, said cross member gear being adapted to be driven by said motor; and   wing holding frames attached to each of said right end and said left end of said at least one cross member, each of said wing holding frames comprising:
 a gear structure disposed on said wing holding frame, said gear structure being adapted to be driven by said motor via said cross member gear; 
 two drive discs disposed on opposing sides of said wing holding frame, said drive discs being adapted to be driven in a rotational direction by said motor via said cross member gear and said gear structure, each of said drive discs comprising
 a proximal surface and a distal surface; 
 two inversion gears disposed on said proximal surface of said drive disc, said inversion gears being adapted to engage one another such that said inversion gears rotate in opposing rotational directions; 
 wing inversion discs disposed on each of said inversion gears such that said inversion gears are disposed between said inversion discs and said proximal surface of said drive disc; and 
 two cam mechanisms disposed on said distal surface of said drive disc, each of said cam mechanisms being adapted to actuate said inversion gears to rotate in opposing rotational directions; and 
 cam tracks disposed on opposing sides of said wing holding frame, each of 
 
 said cam tracks being adapted to engage said cam mechanisms on said drive discs, wherein one of said at least two wings is attached to said wing holding frame by being disposed between and engaging said wing inversion discs on each of said drive discs, 
   wherein said drive discs engage said wing via said wing inversion discs so as to drive said wing through said downward arcuate motion, and   wherein said wing inversion discs engage said wing so as to drive said wing through said upward vertical motion when said cam mechanisms engage said cam tracks and actuate said inversion gears to rotate in opposing rotational directions.   
     
     
         16 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 15 , wherein circumferential surfaces of the wing inversion discs and an outer surface of said wing comprise teeth, said teeth on said circumferential surfaces of said wing inversion discs and said outer surface of said wing engaging each other to prevent slippage of said wing with respect to said wing inversion discs during said reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         17 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 15 , wherein said cam mechanisms are arranged on said distal surfaces of said drive discs so as to engage said cam tracks before said downward arcuate motion of said wing is completed, whereby said wing is withdrawn from said fully extended position and driven in an indexed upward motion prior to reaching a vertical lowered orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 5 , comprising:
 four wings operatively associated with said wing drive assembly, two wings extending from each of said right side and said left side of said body.   
     
     
         19 . The inverting wing propulsion system of  claim 18 , wherein said four wings are staggered as they engage in a synchronized reciprocating motion such that as two wings are driven through said downward arcuate motion, two wings are driven through said upward vertical motion. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing upward vertical thrust to a body, said body having a right side and a left side, comprising the steps of
 (a) providing a wing drive assembly associated with said body;   (b) providing at least two wings operatively associated with said wing drive assembly, at least one wing extending from each of said right side and said left side of said body;   (c) driving said wings from a raised orientation to a lowered orientation by a downward arcuate motion, said wings fully extending from said body during said downward arcuate motion so as to generate an upward thrust;   (d) driving said wings from a lowered orientation to a raised orientation by an upward motion, said wings being retracted during said upward motion; and   (e) repeating steps (c) and (d).   
     
     
         21 . A reciprocating wing propulsion system fir a body, said body having a right side and a left side, said reciprocating wing propulsion system comprising:
 a wing drive, assembly associated with said body; and   at least two wings operatively associated with said wing drive assembly, at least one wing extending from each of said right side and said left side of said body, said wings being adapted to be driven by said wing drive assembly to engage in a reciprocating motion between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation, said reciprocating motion being characterized by a downward arcuate motion, during which said wings fully extend from said body so as to generate an upward thrust, and by an upward motion, during which said wings are retracted, and wherein said reciprocating motion comprises,:
 said wings rotating in a downward arcuate motion from a substantially vertical orientation to a second substantially vertical orientation around a pivot proximate to a first end of said wings: 
 said wings moving a in vertical upward motion without substantial rotation such that a second end of said wings is brought to a position proximate to said pivot; 
 said wings rotating in a downward arcuate motion from a substantially vertical orientation to a second substantially vertical orientation around the pivot proximate to the second end of said wings; and 
 said wings moving a in vertical upward motion without substantial rotation such that the first end of said wings is brought to a position proximate to the pivot.