Ducted Fan Vtol Vehicles
First Claim
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1. A ducted air flow vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage having at least one air flow duct and a prime air mover arranged to force surrounding air to flow into said duct through an inlet at an upper end of said duct thereby creating a lifting force directed along a duct flow axis;
an opening in a portion of a sidewall of said duct, said peripheral sidewall having inner and outer wall surfaces; and
a plurality of vertically oriented pivotally mounted louvers arranged in said opening and controllably pivotable between open and closed positions about respective vertical axes, said vertical axes positioned such that, when in the closed position, said louvers lie substantially on an arc defined by one of said inner and outer wall surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, two Ducted Fan lift-producing propellers carried by the fuselage on each side of the transverse axis, and a body formed in the fuselage between the lift-producing propellers. Many variations are described enabling deflection and affection of flow streams and reduction of drag and momentum drag which improve speed and forward flight of the vehicle. Also described are unique features applicable in any single or multiple ducted fans and VTOL vehicles.
156 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ducted air flow vehicle comprising:
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a fuselage having at least one air flow duct and a prime air mover arranged to force surrounding air to flow into said duct through an inlet at an upper end of said duct thereby creating a lifting force directed along a duct flow axis; an opening in a portion of a sidewall of said duct, said peripheral sidewall having inner and outer wall surfaces; and a plurality of vertically oriented pivotally mounted louvers arranged in said opening and controllably pivotable between open and closed positions about respective vertical axes, said vertical axes positioned such that, when in the closed position, said louvers lie substantially on an arc defined by one of said inner and outer wall surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A ducted fan unit for use in a VTOL vehicle comprising:
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an air flow duct having a sidewall and opposite inlet and exit ends, said side wall having inner and outer surfaces; an air prime mover arranged to force ambient air through said duct; at least one opening in said side wall; a plurality of louvers arranged in said at least one opening, said louvers pivotally mounted for rotation about respective pivot axes, permitting said louvers to move between a first position allowing air to flow through said opening into said duct, and a closed position substantially preventing air from flowing through said opening into said duct;
wherein said pivot axes are located such that when said louvers are in the closed position, they are substantially flush with the inner surface of the duct side wall. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a ducted air flow vehicle comprising a fuselage having at least one air flow duct and a prime mover arranged to force surrounding air into said duct through an inlet at an upper end of the duct, the method comprising:
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(a) forming an opening in a side wall of said air flow duct with a plurality of louvers arranged for adjustable movement between closed and open positions relative to said opening; and (b) adjusting said plurality of louvers to achieve desired control forces on the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification