Balloon with manually operable helicopter blades
US4061293A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1977 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64C31/04
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A balloon filled with buoyant gas provides the major part of the required lift. A pair of spaced rings are supported by a rigging having a plurality of lines supported by the upper half of the balloon at approximately the vertical center of the balloon. Each of a pair of helicopter blade units is rotatably mounted on a corresponding one of the rings. A frame is supported by the rigging beneath the balloon and has a passenger's bicycle type seat mounted thereon, a pedal-operated sprocket wheel rotatably mounted thereon and a plurality of landing wheels rotatably mounted thereon. The sprocket wheel is coupled to the helicopter blade units in a manner whereby a passenger seated in the seat and pedalling the sprocket wheel in any position between central and forward positions contrarotates the torque-balancing blade units for providing additional lift and forward propulsion force. A rudder is movably mounted on the frame and is controlled in direction by the passenger for directing the aircraft in flight.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.