Traversing vortex attractor

• US 20020176778A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Reinfeld, Lewis Illingworth
• Original Assignee: David Reinfeld, Lewis Illingworth
• Inventors: Reinfeld, David, Illingworth, Lewis
• Application Number:
  US10/132,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20020176778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/185
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/001 Shrouded propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/48 Units of two or more coaxial propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/064 with radial airflow
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/00 Influencing flow of fluids

Abstract

A vortex generating apparatus has the capability of attracting and removably adhering one or more solid objects. The apparatus comprises an impeller housed within a shell. The vortex attractor generates a vortical fluid flow generally in the form of a helical or spiral shaped flow. The fluid flow creates a low pressure region extending from the impeller end of the device. This low pressure region is contained by the walls of the fluid flow, thus directing the attractive forces toward a surface and minimizing effects of ambient fluid on the system. When the surface is part of a stationary object, wall, floor or ceiling, the vortex attractor may move toward and adhere to the surface. When the surface is part of a movable object, the vortex attractor may attract the object and maintain the attracted position.

Claims

1. A device for providing a low pressure region comprising:

one or more rotatable impeller vanes;

a means for rotating said impeller vanes; and

a backplate for mounting said rotatable impeller vanes, said backplate having a back side and a front side and said rotatable impeller vanes being mounted upon said front side;

whereby upon actuation of said means of rotating said impeller vanes, said impeller vanes rotate creating a low pressure region at the front side of said backplate, wherein said low pressure region is useful for attracting objects to said front side of said backplate or for pulling the device toward a surface.