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Imagine a submarine. Now put retractible wheels on the bottom. (two or more in a row like a big motorcycle. They can be mostly encased within the vehicle so that only a change in suspension will permit retraction) Now balance the thing with two retractable supports (wheeled) on either side. Now attach
rotors to the top. They can mostly lie flush when not in use. Two sets of two rotors each, counter-rotating. Power the whole thing with a hybrid motor.
US Patent 6,517,026
http://www.google.c...AAAAEBAJ&dq=6517026
[jutta, Jun 13 2007]
[link]
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Wasn't that cool, that thing I saw in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang? |
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Wasn't that cool, that thing I saw in Robbi, Tobbi und das Fliewatüüt! |
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(To be fair, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang didn't have rotors [but see correction from coprocephalus below] and the Fliewatüüt isn't a submarine or a motorcycle; but it is an aero/aqua/car hybrid. And I bet yours doesn't run on raspberry juice!) |
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Reminds me of "Thunderbirds". |
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The "Robin" children's weekly comic in the 1950s had a strip about some children who had a Carshipplane...or maybe it was a family of anthropomorphic animals who had it, I don't remember... |
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//To be fair, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang didn't have rotors //
Ahem, beg to differ, at least in the film - can't remember if they were described in the book. Look carefully at the first flying sequence - they're little foldaway chain-driven affairs on the leading edge of the wings.
To be fair, CCBB wasn't a sub either. |
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Submarines are designed to be heavy (more than 1000kg/M^2 by definition), helicopters need to be as light as possible. Not really compatible technologies. |
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You can compress air for submarine mode to make it heavier. (credit the link for the idea) |
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// You can compress air for submarine mode // |
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It'd probably be better to take on water for submarine mode. |
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If you can invent a type of wheel with propellor blades as spokes (see Merc SLR) so could use the wheels for all forms of propulsion. |
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Didn't they used to give away such things with the "Beano" and "Whizzer and Chips" in the 60s/70s? Y'know - a sort of three spoked wheel that flew like a frisbee, except better, cos of the angled flat spokes. A large version of those could act as a screw, a wheel or a rotor, couldn't it, he asked, hoping to be rescued from a pit of aero-submarine-wheel-related ignorance. |
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Fnar fnar. It's got trainer wheels. |
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//// You can compress air for submarine mode // //
and of course, you fill the ballast tanks with helium for helicopter mode. <grins, ducks and runs> |
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Nice. And hopefully a chap could get a cocktail while ones helisubtruck chauffpiloskipper
takes you around the world. A bun I say! |
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My imagination is begging for more details. Is this a single-person craftvehicle or is it supposed to carry several people? Is it meant for personal use such as daily commuting (the sub would come in really handy when the bridge gets clogged with traffic) or off-road recreational type usage? Is it for the military or just the average Joe or Jill? |
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Questions! So many questions! I'm withholding my fishbone until you can supply more info. |
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Various sizes and types are possible although it's necessary to keep the size large enough to give a nice power-weight ratio. Otherwise it won't fly. |
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Considering the size and the wheel placement it can't drive off-road of course, but wouldn't it make a splendid RV? |
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If you're commuting to an oil platform or your secret, underwater lair, or across the English Channel then I suppose its the commuter vehicle for you. And why the bone? |
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Because I have a right to choose whether I award this idea a croissant or a fishbone, or make no award whatsoever. And furthermore, I am not required to inform you which decision I reached but I am free to do so should I wish. That's what makes the halfbakery great. |
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Imagine getting a fishbone for this idea. Now realize I would have told you I gave it a fishbone because I found the idea to be a rather dubious conglomeration of technologies slapped together in a haphazard manner, as if the idea came to you in a pizza-induced halluco-nictitative nightmare state. |
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/Pizza-induced nightmare state/ I love it. |
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