Vertical/short take-off and landing aircraft

• US 4,828,203 A
• Filed: 12/16/1986
• Issued: 05/09/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Aircraft Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Aircraft Corp.
• Inventors: Clifton, Robert T., Cook, Woodrow L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US06/942,490
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 244/12.1, 244/12.3, 244/12.4, 244/23 B, 244/45 A, 244/93, 244/90 R, 244/90 A, 244/91
• US Class Current: 244/12.3
• 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

Abstract

A vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft comprising a fuselage, a set canard wings, a set of lift fan wings, air deflectors, lift wings, and a pusher propeller. The canard wings are attached forward of the center of gravity to the fuselage. The lift fan wings are attached about the fuselage generally about the center of gravity of the aircraft. The lift fan wings comprise a generally circular duct extending vertically through the wing, a multi-bladed fan mounted for free rotation axially in the duct, and a prime mover connected to the fan for selectively applying rotational torque to the fan. The air deflectors are arranged about the lift fan wing in a louver-type of system for directing even flow of air to the fan. The lift wings are attached to the fuselage aft of the center of gravity of the aircraft and generally at a location vertically higher than the lift fan wings. The pusher propeller is connected to the prime mover and attached to the fuselage aft of the lift Jan wings.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage;

a set of canard wings attached to said fuselage forward of the center of gravity of said aircraft;

a set of lift fan wings attached to said fuselage generally about the center of gravity of said aircraft;

air deflector means mounted about said lift fan wings for directing airflow about said wing;

a set of lift wings attached to said fuselage aft of the center of gravity of said aircraft;

propulsion means attached to said fuselage aft of said lift fan wings for providing forward movement of said aircraft; and

a plurality of perforated strakes attached about the bottom of said fuselage, said strakes extending outwardly from said fuselage, said strakes generally aligned about said lift fan wings.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, said canard wings being symmetrically mounted on opposite sides of said fuselage, said canard wings including elevator members pivotally attached thereto for controlling the pitch of said aircraft.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, further comprising control means for said canard wings for enabling said canard wings to cant about the longitudinal axis of said canard wings.

4. The aircraft of claim 1, said lift fan wings being symmetrically mounted on opposite sides of said fuselage, each of said lift fan wings comprising:

a generally circular duct extending vertically through said wings;

a multi-bladed fan mounted for free rotation axially in said duct; and

prime mover means connected to said fan for selectively applying rotational torque to said fan.

5. The aircraft of claim 4, said air deflector means comprising:

a plurality of fixed deflectors arranged circumferentially about said generally circular duct, said fixed deflectors for directing air generally evenly about the outer edges of said fan.

6. The aircraft of claim 5, said fixed deflectors having an arcuate configuration with one end generally adjacent the upper portion of said duct and with the other end adjacent to the outer edge of said fan.

7. The aircraft of claim 4, said air deflector means comprising:

a plurality of inlet control vanes pivotally mounted about the upper opening of said circular duct, said inlet control vanes controllably movable between a first position and a second position.

8. The aircraft of claim 7, said inlet control vanes being foil-shaped, said first position allowing said inlet control vanes to mesh such that airflow is restricted to said vanes, said second position being an open position in which said vanes direct air toward said fan in said duct.

9. The aircraft of claim 8, each of said inlet control vanes having a lower end pivotally mounted to said lift fan wing, the body of said inlet control vanes being curved so as to generally correspond with the radial curvature of said lift fan wing, said inlet control vanes having an upper end that is shaped so as to fit flush with the lower end of an adjacent inlet control vane.

10. The aircraft of claim 7, said air deflector means further comprising:

fixed inlet vanes attached about the area of pivotal mounting of said inlet control vanes, said fixed inlet vanes for directing airflow toward said fan, said fixed inlet vanes forming a scoop in conjunction with said inlet control vane when said inlet control vanes are in an open position, said fixed inlet vanes extending across said duct.

11. The aircraft of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of outlet control vanes pivotally mounted about the lower opening of said circular duct, said outlet control vanes controllably movable between a closed position and an open position.

12. The aircraft of claim 4, further comprising:

a redundant prime mover comprising at least two engines driving a central shaft, said central shaft connected to said propulsion means;

means for selectively applying the rotation of said central shaft to said fan; and

second shaft transmission means for selectively applying rotation of said central shaft to said propulsion means.

13. The aircraft of claim 12, said engines being of the type that produce in excess of one horsepower per pound of engine weight.

14. The aircraft of claim 12, said propulsion means comprising a pusher propeller, said pusher propeller connected to said central shaft.

15. The aircraft of claim 14, said propulsion means further comprising:

orthogonal working surfaces arranged aft of said pusher propeller.

16. The aircraft of claim 1, said lift wings having ailerons pivotally connected thereto.

17. The aircraft of claim 1, said fuselage being composed of foamed core material.

18. The aircraft of claim 1, each of said lift fan wings comprising:

a generally circular member rotatably mounted to said fuselage;

a generally circular duct extending vertically through said member;

a multi-bladed fan mounted for free rotation axially in said duct;

prime mover means connected to said fan for selectively applying rotational torque to said fan; and

actuation means connected to said member for selectively rotating said member relative to said fuselage.

19. The aircraft of claim 18, said member being rotatable between a position in which the axis of said duct is vertical and a position in which said axis is horizontal relative to the earth.

20. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage;

a set of canard wings attached to said fuselage forward of the center of gravity of said aircraft;

a set of lift fan wings attached to said fuselage generally about the center of gravity of said aircraft, said lift fan wings being symmetrically mounted on opposite sides of said fuselage, each of said lift fan wings comprising;

a generally circular duct extending vertically through said wings;

a multi-bladed fan mounted for free rotation axially in said duct; and

prime mover means connected to said fan for selectively applying rotational torque to said fan;

air deflector means mounted about said lift fan wings for directing airflow about said wing, said air deflector means comprising;

a plurality of inlet control vanes pivotally mounted about the upper opening of said circular duct, said inlet control vanes controllably movable between a first position and a second position, said inlet control vanes being foil-shaped, said first position allowing said inlet control vanes to mesh such that airflow is restricted to said vanes, said second position being an open position in which said vanes direct air toward said fan in said duct, each of said inlet control vanes having a lower end pivotally mounted to said lift fan wing, the body of said inlet control vanes being curved so as to generally correspond with the radial curvature of said lift fan wing, said inlet control vanes having an upper end that is shaped so as to fit flush with the lower end of an adjacent inlet control vane; and

fixed inlet vanes attached about the area of pivotal mounting of said inlet control vanes, said fixed inlet vanes for directing airflow toward said fan, said fixed inlet vanes forming a scoop in conjunction with said inlet control vanes when said inlet control vanes are in an open position, said fixed inlet vanes extending across said duct;

a set of lift wings attached to said fuselage aft of the center of gravity of said aircraft; and

propulsion means attached to said fuselage aft of said lift fan wings for providing forward movement of said aircraft.