Vehicle direction control with a crosswise fan

Abstract

A directional control system for a land, water or airborne vehicle is provided by thrust generated by a selectively actuatable motor coupled to a propeller to produce thrust laterally and cause rotation of the vehicle about its vertical axis. Such thrust, coupled with forward motion of the vehicle will provide directional control left or right, depending upon the direction of rotation of the thrust producing propeller. Controls for operation of the motor driving the thrust producing propeller may be effected by a conventional radio control transmitter and receiver.

I claim:  
     
         1 . Radio controlled apparatus for controlling the direction of travel of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising in combination: 
 a) a transmitter for transmitting a control signal;    b) a receiver for receiving the control signal;    c) an electric motor being responsive to said receiver for turning a propeller to create thrust; and    d) a mounting for said motor on said vehicle, said mounting being adapted to orient the thrust to act about the vertical axis of said vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  including a power supply for said vehicle to energize said receiver and said motor.  
     
     
         3 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said transmitter includes a control for controlling the direction of rotation of said motor.  
     
     
         4 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle is a land vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the rear of said vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle is a waterborne vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the stern of said vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle is an airborne vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the tail of said vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said vehicle includes a vertical stabilizer having an opening therein and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted within said opening.  
     
     
         8 . A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said propeller comprises a fan.  
     
     
         9 . A forwardly movable vehicle having a vertical axis and including a radio control receiver responsive to an operator operated radio control transmitter, said vehicle comprising in combination: 
 a) an electric motor operatively responsive to the receiver;    b) a propeller rotatably responsive to said electric motor for producing thrust; and    c) a mounting for said electric motor adapted to orient the direction of the thrust produced by said propeller about the vertical axis of said vehicle to urge rotation of said vehicle about the vertical axis of said vehicle.    
     
     
         10 . A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said vehicle is a land vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the rear of said vehicle.  
     
     
         11 . A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said vehicle is a waterborne vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the stem of said vehicle.  
     
     
         12 . A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said vehicle is an airborne vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the tail of said vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said vehicle includes a vertical stabilizer having an opening therein and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted within said opening.  
     
     
         14 . A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said propeller comprises a fan.  
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling the direction of travel of a forwardly moving vehicle having vertical, longitudinal and lateral axes, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) transmitting a control signal from a radio control transmitter;    b) receiving the control signal with a radio control receiver located at the vehicle;    c) conveying the control signal to an electric motor to cause rotation of a shaft of the electric motor; and    d) producing thrust about the vertical axis of the vehicle with a propeller operatively responsive to rotation of the shaft of the electric motor to urge the vehicle to rotate about its vertical axis.    
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the vehicle is a land vehicle and wherein said step of producing is carried out at the rear of the vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the vehicle is a watercraft and wherein said step of producing is carried out at the stem of the watercraft.  
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said vehicle is an aircraft and wherein said step of producing is carried out at the tail of the aircraft.  
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the aircraft includes a vertical stabilizer having a hole therein and wherein said step of producing is carried out within the hole.  
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said step of producing provides thrust about the vertical axis and about the lateral axis of the aircraft.