VTOL aircraft
First Claim
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1. A vertical takeoff and landing heavier-than-air aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
a power plant in the fuselage;
a ducted fan in the fuselage and driven by the engine, the ducted fan being arranged to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the aircraft for providing thrust to the aircraft for vertical takeoff and landing;
at least one stator vane pivotally mounted in the aircraft to receive the thrust of the ducted fan and provide an adjustable torque to the ducted fan for controlling the aircraft in yaw; and
a gyroscopic propeller device rotatably and pivotally attached to the fuselage of the aircraft for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the aircraft, said propeller device being rotated by the thrust from the ducted fan thereby providing additional lift, gyroscopic stability, and direction to the aircraft.
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Abstract
A vertical takeoff and landing heavier-than-air aircraft that includes a gyroscopic airfoil in the airstream of a ducted fan to cause vertical lift to the aircraft. The gyroscopic foil is both rotatably and pivotally attached to the aircraft such that it can be titled to provide directional control of the aircraft and, in at least one embodiment, has an adjustable airfoil forming part of the gyroscopic device such that the lift can be varied.
78 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vertical takeoff and landing heavier-than-air aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage; a power plant in the fuselage; a ducted fan in the fuselage and driven by the engine, the ducted fan being arranged to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the aircraft for providing thrust to the aircraft for vertical takeoff and landing; at least one stator vane pivotally mounted in the aircraft to receive the thrust of the ducted fan and provide an adjustable torque to the ducted fan for controlling the aircraft in yaw; and a gyroscopic propeller device rotatably and pivotally attached to the fuselage of the aircraft for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the aircraft, said propeller device being rotated by the thrust from the ducted fan thereby providing additional lift, gyroscopic stability, and direction to the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vertical takeoff and landing heavier-than-air aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage; an engine in the fuselage arranged to provide airstream thrust to the aircraft necessary for vertical takeoff and landing; and a gyroscopic propeller device rotatably and pivotally attached along a vertical axis to the fuselage of the aircraft such that the propeller device is rotated by the airstream thrust from the engine thereby providing additional lift, gyroscopic stability, and direction to the aircraft.
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Specification