Have you ever seen those toy radio controlled helicopters where the rotor blades are connected by a ring? Do you ever wonder why real helicopters are not that way? Well one reason is because helicopter blades flex quite a bit. Yes a scary thought indeed, but they are suppose to be that way and actually safer because of it. But what if a ring around the rotor blades also flexed or controlled the flexing moving outward or inward? Of course one obvious question that any student of aeronautics would immediately explain that there are indeed aerodynamic issues to consider as the ring will block airflows at certain angles and become dangerous to the rotor blades lift factor. Indeed, they are correct this is an issue, but there may be a way to accomplish this task and actually provide more lift during the transition phase from hover to forward motion or from slowing down to hover. How so you ask? Well rather than putting these rings at the same height as the rotor blades let them hang down a few feet with posts on the ring sticking up ever so often which have angled tips to create vortex airflows above the rotor blades to help them create more lift while also allowing the ring its self to be shaped like an air foil. Try it in a wind tunnel you might be quite shocked as to what you find. Think on this in 2006. |
