MORPHING DUCTED FAN FOR VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING VEHICLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ducted fan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the ducted fan comprising:
- a rotor fan; and
an annular duct surrounding the fan and comprising an inlet section on a first side of the fan and an outlet section on a second side of the fan opposing the first side,wherein at least one of the inlet section or the outlet section is configured to actively change shape as a function of a mode of operation of the VTOL vehicle.
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Abstract
A morphing duct of a ducted fan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle is configured to change shape as function of the flight mode of the vehicle to improve the thrust per unit energy input for the ducted fan. Additionally, the morphing duct may be configured to change shape to change the flight path of the VTOL vehicle.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ducted fan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the ducted fan comprising:
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a rotor fan; and an annular duct surrounding the fan and comprising an inlet section on a first side of the fan and an outlet section on a second side of the fan opposing the first side, wherein at least one of the inlet section or the outlet section is configured to actively change shape as a function of a mode of operation of the VTOL vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle comprising:
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an engine; and at least one ducted fan comprising; a rotor fan operatively connected to the engine; and an annular duct surrounding the fan and comprising an inlet section and an outlet section on opposing sides of the fan, wherein at least one of the inlet section or the outlet section is configured to change shape as a function of a mode of operation of the VTOL vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method comprising:
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determining a flight mode of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle to which a ducted fan is operatively connected; determining a shape for at least one of an inlet section or an outlet section of a duct of the ducted fan as a function of the flight mode; and changing the at least one of the inlet section or the outlet section of the duct of the ducted fan to the shape. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification