Vertical and horizontal flight aircraft "Sky Rover"

• US 20120187236A1
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Herbert Russell Burnham
• Original Assignee: Burnham J. Kellogg
• Inventors: Burnham, J. Kellogg
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/12.5
• 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

Abstract

Novel aircraft for vertical and horizontal flight having powered air acceleration means installed within its structure drawing air thereinto and delivering the resulting airflow upon airfoils installed in opposed pairs on opposite sides of its exterior structure thereby producing lift without forward travel of the aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft supported in air by means of lift generated upon airfoils attached externally to the aircraft structure and swept by controlled airstreams produced for that purpose within the aircraft structure.

2. Means whereby the said airstream is delivered upon the airfoil at a relatively steep angle of attack between airflow and airfoil.

3. An assembly composed of one or more fans, blowers, or propellers, each surrounded by its respective shroud installed within the vehicle for production of the airflow and its angular delivery.

4. An assembly composed of one or more fans or propellers or blowers producing airflow directed horizontally along the inside of the structure and diverted outward by deflecting means at selected places.

5. An assembly as in the preceding claim wherein each vertical airflow is divided by a splitter into two airflows oppositely directed, outward from the vertical.

6. An assembly as in the preceding claim wherein each angular airflow may pass through a straightening device.

7. An assembly as in the preceding claim wherein each airflow encounters the leading edge of the respective airfoil at an angle of more than 25°

and less than 85°

.

8. An airflow-producing assembly composed of one or more fans, propellers, or blowers, the airflow of which is directed axially along the structure and at selected points diverted outward by deflecting means.

9. An assembly as in preceding claims, in which one or more centrifugal blowers provide the airstream or airstreams, and discharge the airstream directly outward through the aperture in the structurewall and upon the airfoil at a convenient angle of attack, or so discharge through a straightener onto airfoil.

10. An assembly as in preceding claims in which a deflecting surface (known in the trade as “

Fender”

) opposes the escape, above the airfoil, of part of the airflow.

11. An assembly as in the preceding claims in which a component (known in the trade as “

Slot”

) directs a higher-speed jet of air to emerge at a selected point on the camber of the airfoil.

12. An aircraft which draws in air principally from above and dispatches the same air horizontally out to both sides.

13. An aircraft provided with a power source and means to intake air and to expel the air and to controllably expel the air upon airfoils in such manner as to provide lift.

14. An aircraft as described in the preceding claim equipped for light, maneuver, and performance of service.

15. Means for airfoil lift when swept with controlled airflow as set forth above and applied to the fuselage roof of aircraft of whatever size to reduce stalling speed and promote safe maneuver.

16. An automatic balance restoring mechanism comprising multiple detector electrodes, individually activated by a tilt in a specific direction closing the corresponding circuit for corrective action.

17. In reference to an airfoil mechanism, the means of exploiting high lift values in sweeping an airfoil as herein described with an airstream of high velocity air at a high angle of attack, such as from 30°

to 80°

.

18. The means of applying the high lift obtained as set forth in the preceding claim in supporting in air a heavier-than-air vehicle.

19. For use in supporting in air a heavier-than-air vehicle, the sequence of:

a fan or propeller or blower enclosed in its housing, the airstream optionally passing through a straightener, the airstream exiting the straightener directly upon the airfoil at an angle of attack no less than 30° and

optionally up to a maximum angle of attack 80°

.

20. A self-balancing aircraft having its points of support on both sides consisting of a plurality of airfoils generating lift when swept by airstreams produced within the aircraft structure, the said airfoils structurally joined to the aircraft structure, the latter hanging and dependent from the said banks of airfoils.

21. The application to general aircraft fuselage roofs, and to additional winglets, of suitable airfoils, either transverse or forward-facing, each swept at high-lift attack ratio by a respective and adequate airstream, to provide ancillary lift and support for the aircraft, to reduce aircraft stalling speed, and for supplementary takeoff boost, for safety purposes.

22. A wingless airborne self-supporting vehicle as set forth in preceding claims, wherein the airfoils, above described as mounted on the outer surface of the structure and having their leading edges directed toward the apertures from which airflows strike the said airfoils, are here further defined as capable of axial gyration, when the vehicle is standing still on surface of the structure and having their leading edges directed toward the apertures from which airflows strike the said airfoils, are here further defined as capable of axial gyration, when the vehicle is standing still on ground, and as controlled and accomplished by the pilot, so that the trailing edge of each said airfoil is elevated and comes to stand approximately vertical and parallel to the long axis of the aircraft structure, thereby reducing the overall width of Sky Rover to a highway-admissible value, and further being able to change back to the normal airfoil position as previously discussed.

23. The features of the Sky Rover vehicle as set forth in all preceding claims and further susceptible of being provided with automotive capabilities including steering, braking, power transmission to the wheels, without necessary impediment to other capabilities of Sky Rover as set forth herein.

24. An aircraft as herein described which becomes airborne by the action of lift generated upon its externally mounted airfoils when swept by airflow produced and directed within the structure of said aircraft, whatever the specific conformation of said aircraft.

25. The use of a closed conduit or ramp to direct airflow clear to the dividing line on the leading edge of an airfoil where airflow over upper camber separates from airflow over lower camber.