Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11'7(~ti3~
The present invention relates to a kite having improved
flight characteristics.
More specifically, the invention relates to a kite having
an inflatable body which is generally T-shaped in plan, the upright
of the 'T' extending from front to rear of the kite and the cross-
piece of the 'T' extending transversely of the kite at or adjacent
the front of the kite, there being provided on each side of the kite
a flap of sheet material which is connected to the adjacent bound-
aries of the upright and the cross-piece of the 'T' and which has
an outer edge which extends from an outermost position at or adja-
cent the associated free end of associated arm of the cross-piece
of the 'T' and an innermost position at or adjacent the free end
of the upright of the 'T' adjacent the rear of the kite, an inflat-
able tube being provided along the outer edge of each flap, so that
the two inflatable tubes define an inwardly tapering rear lateral
boundary of the kite.
Accordingly, the invention provides a kite having an
inflatable body and flaps each of sheet material and each having
a trailing edge, an inflatable tube being provided along the trail-
ing edge of each flap.
Normally, there will be two such flaps, one on each sideof the kite, and I have found, surprisingly, that by controlling
the inflation of the two tubes, the yaw of the kite can be varied
.to a remarkable degree. Remote control means, such as a separate
control line or lines, a radio-control arrangement or transmission
along a conducting line, can permit the yaw of the kite to be
varied in flight.
Each tube can be inflatable in several different ways,
for example; by a scoop for directing ram air to the tube; by
an inlet at a leading edge of the kite
~rj,~h,, :~:
,
. 11'7~638
leadin~ ram air to ductin~ connectin~ with the tube;
by differential pressure between an inner and an
outer skin Or the kite; by a pump operated from the
movement o~ parts of the kite in flight; or by a ~imple
inflation inlet when a predetermined degree of
inrlation is surficient.
The invention also provides a kite having an
in~latable body portion divided internally into two or
more compartments which can be inflated individually to
desired de~rees to vary the aerodynamic ~hape Or the
body portion.
SurprisinFly, I have round that the provision Or the
two or more compartments enables the aerodynamic shape Or
the body portion to be varied substantially to increase
the lift-to-draF, (L/~)ratio for various wind conditions.
Prererably, the two compartments lie one on top Or the
other. A rirst of the compartments can be defined
entirely.bg an inner baF~ o~ ~lexible sheet material and
a second of the compartments can be de~ined between an
outer skin Or the body portion and one ~ace o~ the inner
ba~. Pre~erably the inner baF has struts, ribs or the
like which con~train its shape when inflated. The inner
b~g can be divided înto two portions front and back.
38
(
Se~arate inflation tube~ can connect one with
each compartment, or can inrlate each compartment
individually.
Each kite Or the invention can have a bridle, between
itself and the control line, consistin~ of several
individual ligaments each connecting with the body Or the
kite at a separate connector. This reduces the loading
on each connectin~ noint. The briAle can include one or
more elastic li~ament~ to ab~orb shock loads and to allow
the kite bod~ to chan~e attitude when wind ~peed change~.
The invention will be described rurther, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:-
Fig. 1 is an underneath view of a kite Or theinvention in an uninrlated condition;
j~ Fig, 2 is a top plan view o~ the kite, unin~lated;
Fi~. 3 is an underneath plan view Or the kite
in~lated;
Fi~. 4 is a to~ plan view Or the kite inrlated;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation o~ the kite in~lated;
1170638
- 4 -
Flg. 6 is a rear elevation of the kite
lnflated showing one trailing edge tube
lnflated and the other deflated.
Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to that of
Fig. 6 but showlng both tubes inflated
and deflated respectively;
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the inflated kite
showing one tube inflated;
Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the tube
deflated;
Fig. 11 is an underneath view of a further
l embodiment of kite;
; Fig. 12 shows the kite of Fig. 11 inflated;
Fig. 13 to 16 showshow a kite of the lnvention can
be stored and aueomatically launched;
- ~ Flg. 17 shows a further different kite;
; Flg. 18 shows the klte of Fig. 17 inflated;
Fig. 19 shows a further stlll different klte; and
Flg. 20 shows yet another klte of the invention.
A preferred kite of the inventlon is made
by disposlng
two or more layers of weldable, flexlble, gas-lmpermeable
plastics materlal ln face to face relationship and welding
.~
~ or otherwise connectlng them together in an air-tlght manner
,;
' ~
.3~
,
. ,
1~7(~6313
along lines a - b, a -- d, b - fn, d - e - m, and m - c
and n - c. This gives a kite body having a generally
arrow-shaped inflatable portion and two flaps ~
These two layers form upper and lower outer sk~ns of the
inflatable body portion and an inner bag is sandwiched
therebetween, and attached thereto at the aforesaid weld
lines, as will be later described.
To distribute the load imposed on the body by the
line, there is a bridle arrangement consisting of a front
ligament r ~attached at ~, a pair of rear ligaments
rl and r2 (attached at h and i) which join and connect
to a rear common ligament r3 which connects with r at its
junction with the line proper, r3 includes an elastic
ligament r4, ~n parallel with a limiting in elastic
ligament r5, for absorbing shock loads and allowing the
kite body to change attitude when the wlnd speed changes.
Each attachment point g, h, i, can be a piece
of sheet material welded to the outer laysr and individual
smaller bridles can be provided, as best seen in Figs. 5
and 6 to spre~the load.
The trailing edge of each flap p, q, is provided
with an inflatable tube (t, s) which can be inflated by
inflation tubes I, II. By varying the extent of inflation of
the two tubes (t,s), the yaw of the kite can be varied. The
tubes can be inflatable selectively by remote control, such
as by a separate line or lines, by radio control, or by
~ 3
-- 6 --
signals passing along a condu¢~ive line. In these cases
in~lation o~ the tubes (t,s) would best be achieved by a valved
ram-air inlet at the tube or at a leading edge of the kite. As
a further possibility dif~erential pressure between varied skins
of the inflatable body portion could be used to inflate the tubes.
A further possibility is the provision of a pump operated by
movement o~ the various parts of the kite in flight. A still
rurther possibility i~ the provision o~ an electrically driven
pump. The pump can direct air from tube to tube or inflate the
tubes. Power can be supplied by a battery carried by the kite with
control being exercised via a eonductive line, or power can also
be supplied via a conductive line~
This method o~ yawing the kite i8 highly e~ficient and a
great improvement on previous known methods.
It i8 possible by inflating both tubes t,s simultaneously
to obtain a higher angle of elevation than when the trailing edge
~lap~ and by de~lating one section in relation to the opposite
section it will automatically yaw the kite to the side corre~pond-
ing to the most in~lated section. The degree o~ yaw will vary
according to the di~erential in pressure between the two trailing
edge tubes. The diameter Or these tubes along the trailing edge is
important. For instance, a kite with a 2 metre x 2 metre lay~lat
sur~ace, the maximum lay~lat diameter o~ this tube must not be more
than 17cms otherwise the kite will yaw in the opposite direction in
an unoontrollable manner, and i~ both tubes are inflated instead Or
giving the kite a higher L/D ratio with stability the kite will have
a lower L/D and be uncontrolled in movement. The whole
system o~ yaw can either be operated by remotely controlled
i38
valves which are actuated to release or increase pressure,
and in certain circumstances can if required be operated
by a second or possibly two extra lines to the operator.
The remote control can be by means of a radio transmitter
and receiver or by direct wire transmission from base.
As best seen in Figs. 5 and 9 the kite of the
invention has its inflatable body portion divided into
three compartments (w, o, z) by two inner layers or skins.
The two inner layers fo~m a separate inflatable bag whose
shape is controlled, by structures such as ribs or struts
x, y, to that shown in Fig. 5. The bag is separately
inflatable by a tube ~v) (Fig.9). On various different
shapes of a kite and particularly on larger kites more than
two ribs could be used.
The space w between the bag and the upper outer
layer is inflatable by a tube (u). Space z is normally
uninflated, but could be via a separate tube (not shown)
if desired.
By varying the degree of lnflation of compartment
o and w it is possible to vary the aerodynamic shape of
the kite to give an optimum L/D ratio for a given wind
speed. The ribs x, y prevent the inner bag taking up a
shape too close to spherical, so giving the kite a flatter,
more airfoil-shaped configuration.
0638
-- 8 --
The lnventlon is not limited to the precise
details of the foregoing and variation can be made thereto.
~ In particular, a
selected one or selected ones of the compartments and/or
the flap edge tubes can be inflated with a gas different
from air, ln particular heli~m, to vary the characteristics
of the klte. It is particularly beneflcial to fill the
inner bag with helium and the outer upper compartment with
air.
The two or four layers of the kite need not be
square, but can be of diamond shape, or any other convenient
shape symmetrical about a centre line.
. .
As a particular such alternative shape the kite
can, in plan have a transversely extending section shaped
like a conventional wlng and a forwardly pro~ecting generally
triangular-shaped nose sectlon, glvlng the kite an overall
~hape midway between a delta-wlng shape and a oonventlonal
wing shape. The conventional wlng section can have
reinforclng rlbs which extend transversely of the kite to
give great strength and rigidity. However, such ribs
would give great wind resistance and they are thus
'~ ~
~ . ~,
6313
g
covered by a second skin forming an inflatable
compartment above the wing. The lower face of the wing
can be covered by an outer lower skin which remains
uninflated. The nose section can itself have one or more
separately inflatable compartments. In particular the
nose section can have an upper and a lower compartment
each separately inflatable.
The kite 20 of Fig. 11 is similar in general form
to those described above but has the leading edges 21
of its main body 22 outwardly deflected at 23 to form small
wings 24. Inflated tubes 25 extend rearwardly and
inwardly along the trailing edges 26 of flaps 27 and are
inflated simultaneously with body 22 by means of inflation
tube 28. This kite 20 has an adjusting yoke 29
comprising inextensible front cords 30, 31 and 32,
inextensible rear cords 33 and 34 and an extensible rear
ligament 35 which normally functions when the kite is
flying. Only when very high winds occur does the
ligament 35 stretch to its maximum (the illustrated condition)
where its stretch is limited by inextensible cord 36.
The kite is able thus to adjust lt$ attitude relative to
winds of a range of stxengths.
~ igs, 13 to 16 show the way in which the kite
automatically inflates from a gas cylinder 54 on being
activated from a switch 56. Thls switch 56 can be remotely
11'7()63l3
-- 10 --
controlled or time controlled. The actual opening of
the valve on the gas cylinder 54 can be by solenoid or
pyrotechnics.
In Fig.15 is shown the non return valve 55 in
its open position with the gas entering the kite and in
Fig. 16 in the closed position. Returning to Fig. 13, the
kite is held to the container by a line 45 which ls shorter
than line 47 which in turn is shorter than inflation tube
53.
Line 45 has an O ring at the aft end connected to
a pin in a release mechanism 46 so that when the kite is
fully inflated the pin can be withdrawn,again_ by means of
a solenoid or ~yrotechnics, either by remote control or by
a timed mechanism to release the kite.
In Fig. 14 is shown the kite fully inflated with
line 45 attached to the rear bridle and release mechanism
46 just before release, and in ~ig. 18 the detached
line 45 is shown after release from the container.
Upon releasing the kite the sequence of detachlng
the inflation tube is shown in Figs. 15 and 16.
;
The line 47 is attached to the container at 48
,~. '
, .
1170638
and has a pin 49 inserted into a split circlip 50, and
as the kite starts to deploy it puts pressure onto that
line 47, thereby withdrawing the pin from the circlip
which then opens. After line 47 is detached, the pressure
of the deploying kite transfers to the inflation tube 53
which is a loose it (without the circlip 50) on valve 41.
This immediately releases the inflation tube 53 from the
valve 41 and the kite starts to deploy on the tethering
line 51, which is affixed to the container at 59 (Fig. 13).
The tethering line 51 runs through a roller system 52,
so that a small amount of resistance lS always ~t at the
kite. This allows the kite to deploy in very light winds,
but stops the line 51 which is flaked in the container, from
having no resistance, which could force the kite to be
s~ept along the surface of the sea (or land) by high winds.
In other words the resistance is not enough to stop the
kite from deploying in very light winds, but enable it to
obtain aerodynamic lift in high winds.
This should stop the possibility of the ~;ite being
submerged by high seas, and not having enough static lift
or buoyancy to break through the waves.
pressure release valve can be utilise~ should the
volume of gas in the cylinder 54 be considerably more than
the required volume of gas in the kite. It is mainly a
117~6.38
- 12 -
safety factor to ensure that the kite is not over-
inflated, although for sea rescue purposes the cylinder 54
will contain the correct amount of gas for a particular
kite.
Fig. 16 shows the non-return valve 55 in its closed
position after inflation.
; Fig. 17 shows a kite 50 having tapered trailing
edge tubes 51, three inflation points 52, one for the
; body 53 and one for each tube 51, a bridle 54 as previously
described and internal panels 55 attached to the upper and `
lower surfaces of the body 53 whlch limit the degree of
inflation of the body 53-and improve its aerodynamic
shape. Fig. 18 shows the kite of Fig. 17 inflated.
Fig. 19 shows a kite 56 havlng a variation in a
bridle which has two portions 57a, 57h enabling two
lines to be attached for flight control.
Fig. 20 shows a further variation ~n the shape of
the trailing edge tubes 58 of a kite 59.
~:
Each one of the kites shown can have three or more
~ skins dividing its body into two or more separately-
::
: ,S
: .
..,~
11~7~31
- 13 -
in~latable or non-inflatable compartments. Each kite
can be inrlated with a light gas such as helium or
hydrogen.
The kite of Fig. 20 i8 particularly useful when very
large structures are contemplated, for example ~or towing
a sea-going ves~el. Outwardly o~ tubes 58 can be provided
one or more further tube~ 60,61, pairs Or which can be
optionally inrlatable to enable the size Or the kite 58
to be varied wh~lst it is rlying. Whilst the tubes60, 61
have been shown to be individually inflatable by means Or ~-
valves 63, in practice a remote-controlled arrangement
will be adopted which can be actuated rrom the lower endar
the line whilst the kite is alort. The number Or pairs of
tubes 60, 61 can be increased, but as their number does
~crease some stability at right angles to the length Or
these tubes will normally have to be provided.
.
