Fluid-medium vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle or the like, operable in the vicinity of an interface between differentially flowing regions of fluid media, consisting of two fluid-diverting members each acting as an aero/hydrodynamic wing, connected by at least one tether passing through the fluid interface, whereby each member is rendered able to divert each toward the other as well as each aft along the path of the vehicle some of the mass of its surrounding fluid flow; typically, means of controlling at least one wingset in response to its distance from the fluid interface; and typically, means of operation of at least one wingset for control of the course of the vehicle.

38 . A vehicle for using generally layered and differing fluid flows to produce aerohydro-dynamic lift by diversion of the fluid flows generally each toward the other and aft comprising; 
 first and second wingsets each designed to interact with different ones of the layered fluid streams;    tether means attached to respective wingsets and under tension when the wingsets are acted upon by their respective fluid flows to permit aerohydrodynamic forces acting upon each of the wingsets to urge them apart and cause displacement of the vehicle as a unit in the direction of net force:    control means on at least one wingset to cause that wingset to change its orientation relative to the tether and thereby change the aerohydrodynamic forces acting upon the wingset to change direction of movement of the vehicle.    
     
     
         39 . The vehicle of  claim 38  in which the tether connection to each wingset allows movement in any direction of the wingset relative to the tether to permit that wingset to assume any selected orientation to generate desired forces, and each wingset has means to control at least the orientation of said wingset relative to the tether.  
     
     
         40 . The vehicle of  claim 38  in which at least one of the fluid flows is air and the wingset in the airflow includes an airfoil producing aerodynamic force at least to some extent away from the other wingset and opposing the force of gravity on the vehicle.  
     
     
         41 . The vehicle of  claim 38  in which both wingsets are airfoils oppositely disposed so as to apply tension to the tether means connecting them and individually disposed so as to apply a net aerohydrodynamic force causing displacement of the vehicle and opposing the total force of gravity on the vehicle.  
     
     
         42 . The vehicle of  claim 38  in which at least one of the wingsets is designed to react with water flows.  
     
     
         43 . The vehicle of  claim 42  in which both of the wingsets are designed to react with the differentiated water flows.  
     
     
         44 . The vehicle of  claim 38  in which the control means act to reposition the controlled wingset to modify its orientation relative to the flow in which it is immersed to achieve a change in aerohydrodynamic force and consequent vehicle propelling force.  
     
     
         45 . The vehicle of  claim 44  in which the control means include mechanism aboard the at least one wingset and adjustment structure responsive to control signals from a site remote from said wingset to achieve the range of repositioning of the wingset needed for adjusting the attitude of the wingset for desired operation of the vehicle.  
     
     
         46 . The vehicle of  claim 45  in which said signals from a remote site are radio signals from a transmitter which has controls enabling the operator of the transmitter to position the vehicle to fly as desired.  
     
     
         47 . The vehicle of  claim 45  in which signals are from an operating station for an operator aboard the vehicle.  
     
     
         48 . The vehicle of  claim 47  in which the operating station is in a compartment for a human pilot located on a wingset.  
     
     
         49 . The vehicle of  claim 47  in which the operating station is remote from the wingset being controlled but in a compartment carried by the vehicle.  
     
     
         50 . The vehicle of  claim 40  with means arranged to statically support and orient the wingsets at rest and means for extension of said tether to provide for elevation of the air-immersed wingset according to increase of the aerodynamic forces thereon.