Ducted fan VTOL vehicles

• US 20080054121A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Urban Aeronautics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Urban Aeronautics Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoeli, Raphael
• Application Number:
  US11/798,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080054121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1415 Cargo doors, e.g. incorporating ramps
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/22 Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading , e.g. cargo bays, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0033 the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/40 Varying angle of sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 7/00 Arrangements of military equipment, e.g. armaments, armament accessories, or military shielding, in aircraft; Adaptations of armament mountings for aircraft dropping bombs or the like B64D1/00; armaments or mountings therefor per se F41
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/50 Glider-type UAVs, e.g. with parachute, parasail or kite for landing B64U70/83
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction

Abstract

A VTOL vehicle comprising a fuselage having forward and aft propulsion units, each propulsion unit comprising a propeller located within an open-ended duct wall wherein a forward facing portion of the duct wall of at least the forward propulsion unit is comprised of at least one curved forward barrier mounted for horizontal sliding movement to open the forward facing portion to thereby permit air to flow into the forward facing portion when the VTOL vehicle is in forward flight.

Claims

1. A VTOL vehicle comprising a fuselage having forward and aft propulsion units, each propulsion unit comprising a propeller located within an open-ended duct wall wherein a forward facing portion of the duct wall of at least the forward propulsion unit is comprised of at least one curved forward barrier mounted for horizontal sliding movement to open said forward facing portion to thereby permit air to flow into said forward facing portion when the VTOL vehicle is in forward flight.

2. The VTOL vehicle of claim 1 wherein said at least one curved barrier comprises two curved forward barriers slidably mounted on said duct wall of said forward propulsion unit for movement in toward a rearward facing portion of said duct wall of said forward propulsion unit.

3. The VTOL vehicle of claim 2 wherein said two curved forward barriers are slidably mounted on a first pair of upper and lower annular duct rings.

4. The VTOL vehicles of claim 2 wherein said two curved forward barriers are adjustable between fully-open and fully-closed positions.

5. The VTOL vehicle of claim 1 wherein a rearward facing portion of the duct wall of the rearward propulsion unit is comprised of at least one curved rearward barrier mounted for horizontal sliding movement to open said rearward facing portion of said duct wall of said rearward propulsion unit to thereby permit air to exit said rearward facing portion when the VTOL vehicle is in forward flight.

6. The VTOL vehicle of claim 5 wherein said at least one curved rearward barrier comprises two curved rearward barriers slidably mounted for movement in opposite directions toward a forward facing portion of said duct wall of said rearward propulsion unit.

7. The VTOL vehicle of claim 6 wherein said two curved rearward barriers are slidably mounted on a second pair of upper and lower annular duct rings.

8. The VTOL vehicle of claim 6 wherein said two curved rearward barriers are adjustable between fully-open and fully-closed positions.

9. The VTOL vehicle of claim 1 wherein each open-ended duct wall has an upper air inlet end and a lower air outlet end, said upper air inlet end having a plurality of vanes extending across the duct wall.

10. The VTOL vehicle of claim 5 wherein each open-ended duct wall has an upper air inlet end and a lower air outlet end, said upper air inlet end having a plurality of vanes extending across the duct wall.

11. A method of reducing drag on a VTOL vehicle in forward flight, the VTOL vehicle comprising a fuselage with at least one propulsion unit comprising a propeller located within an open-ended duct wall, the method comprising:

providing an opening in a portion of the duct wall of the propulsion unit;

providing at least one barrier arranged to slide about the duct wall; and

sliding said at least one barrier about said duct wall to in a first horizontal direction to uncover said opening when the VTOL vehicle is in forward flight, and sliding said at least one barrier in an opposite direction to cover said opening when the VTOL vehicle is in hover.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one barrier comprises a first pair of barriers.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one propulsion unit is a forward propulsion unit, the method further comprising:

providing an opening in a rearward facing portion of the duct wall of a rearward propulsion unit;

providing at least one additional barrier arranged to slide about the duct wall of the rearward propulsion unit; and

sliding said at least one additional barrier about the duct wall of the rearward propulsion unit to uncover said opening in said rearward facing portion when the VTOL vehicle is in forward flight.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one additional barrier comprises a second pair of barriers.

15. The method of claim 13 including closing said opening in said opening in said rearward facing portion when the VTOL is in hover.

16. A duct for use in a VTOL vehicle, the duct comprising a duct wall with a flow inlet at one end and a flow exit at an opposite end, the duct wall having an opening therein with at least one barrier mounted for horizontal sliding movement in opposite directions to open and close said opening.