DOUBLE-DUCTED FAN

• US 20110217163A1
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Inventors: Akturk, Ali, Camci, Cengiz
• Granted Patent: US 8,821,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/220
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/001 Shrouded propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/00 Aircraft capable of landing or taking-off vertically, e.g. vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft rotorcraft B64C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/00 Power-plant nacelles, fairings, or cowlings nacelles not otherwise provided for B64C
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/26 Double casings; Measures against temperature strain in casings
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/042 having variable geometry
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/077 the plant being of the multiple flow type, i.e. having three or more flows
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/541 Specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps F04D29/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/547 having a special shape in order to influence fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/328 providing direct vertical lift
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/312 the axes being parallel to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/1022 due to high angle of attack of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A double-ducted fan includes a hub, a rotor having a plurality of blades rotatably and coupled to the hub, a first duct, a second duct, and a channel defined between the first duct and second duct. The first duct circumscribes the rotor, and the second duct circumscribes at least a portion of the first duct. The second duct can be oriented axially upward such that there is an axial distance is between the leading edges of the first duct and second duct. The channel can be configured to direct air flow cross-wise to the first duct over a top of the first duct into the inlet side of the fan. The second duct can be movable relative to the first duct to adjust at least a portion of the channel. The length of the first duct can be different from the length of the second duct.

Claims

1. A ducted air rotor comprising:

a hub;

a rotor coupled to the hub and having a plurality of blades;

a first duct adapted to circumscribe the rotor fan;

a second duct adapted to circumscribe at least a portion of the first duct and to define a channel between the first duct and the second duct.

2. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the second duct is movable relative to the first duct to adjust at least a portion of the channel.

3. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the first duct comprises a leading edge and the rotor comprises an inlet, said channel being oriented to direct air flow cross-wise to the first duct over the leading edge into the inlet.

4. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the second duct is oriented axially upward from a leading edge of the first duct such that an axial distance is defined between a leading edge of the first duct and a leading edge of the second duct.

5. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the second duct is oriented at an angle with respect to the first duct.

6. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the second duct is cambered.

7. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the second duct has an airfoil shape.

8. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the channel is a converging-diverging channel.

9. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the second duct is stationarily coupled to the first duct.

10. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the first duct and the second duct are one of concentrically oriented and eccentrically oriented with respect to one another

11. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the first and second duct are eccentrically oriented, and the second duct is axially movable with respect to the first duct to adjust a portion of the width of the channel.

12. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the first duct has a first axial length and the second duct has a second axial length greater than the first axial length.

13. The ducted air rotor of claim 1, wherein the first duct has a first axial length and the second duct has a second axial length less than the first axial length.

14. A ducted air rotor comprising:

a hub;

a rotor couplable to the hub and having a plurality of blades;

a first duct body couplable to the rotor, the first duct body defining a second duct and forming a channel therebetween.

15. The ducted air rotor of claim 14, wherein:

the first duct body comprises an upper surface and a side extending substantially perpendicular to the upper surface; and

the channel comprises a first end at the upper surface and a second end at the side.

16. The ducted air rotor of claim 14, wherein the first duct body comprises at least one chamfered corner.

17. The ducted air rotor of claim 14, wherein the first duct body has a first axial length and the second duct has a second axial length less than the first axial length.

18. The ducted air rotor of claim 14, wherein the first duct body comprises a side defining the second duct.

19. A ducted air rotor comprising:

a hub;

a rotor coupled to the hub and having a plurality of blades;

a first duct adapted to circumscribe the rotor;

a second duct couplable to the first duct and radially spaced from the first duct, the second duct defining a channel between the first duct and the second duct.

20. The ducted air rotor of claim 19, wherein the second duct circumscribes less than a circumference of the first duct.