VSTOL vehicle
First Claim
1. A VSTOL vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage shaped to develop aerodynamic lift in a horizontal flight;
a plurality of ducts, rigidly and non-pivotably connected to said fuselage, which are positioned around center of mass of said vehicle, and whose center axes are at various fixed angles between, but substantially different from, said vehicle'"'"'s vertical and longitudinal axes, such that full three dimensional attitude control can be achieved with torques produced by varying thrusts from said ducts;
each said duct having inside a rotor which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the duct to generate independent streams of airflow for propelling and stabilizing said vehicle, each said duct has a total axial length, as measured from the opening of the duct to its aft end where air flow exits, of at least more than half the diameter of the rotor inside said duct;
a plurality of power plants and transmission means for conveying the rotational energy from said power plants to the said rotors;
control means for coordinating the power generated by the power plants to maintain the balance and stability of said vehicle and to rotate and move said vehicle in any direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A VSTOL vehicle including a fuselage with two pairs of ducted rotors fully enclosed fore and aft of the fuselage respectively. The fuselage is aerodynamically shaped to generate lift in forward flight. All four ducts are configured such that their center axes are at angles tilted sufficiently forward from the vertical axis of the fuselage. Each ducted rotor is powered by one engine inside the duct behind the rotor. All four rotors and engine shafts rotates counterclockwise, generating substantial angular momentum for gyroscopic effect. Variable inlets of the ducted rotors and vector thrusting of the airflow out of the ducted rotors combine to provide efficient power and control during all phases of flight. The vehicle is configured to meet motor vehicle requirements to drive on streets.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A VSTOL vehicle comprising:
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a fuselage shaped to develop aerodynamic lift in a horizontal flight;
a plurality of ducts, rigidly and non-pivotably connected to said fuselage, which are positioned around center of mass of said vehicle, and whose center axes are at various fixed angles between, but substantially different from, said vehicle'"'"'s vertical and longitudinal axes, such that full three dimensional attitude control can be achieved with torques produced by varying thrusts from said ducts;
each said duct having inside a rotor which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the duct to generate independent streams of airflow for propelling and stabilizing said vehicle, each said duct has a total axial length, as measured from the opening of the duct to its aft end where air flow exits, of at least more than half the diameter of the rotor inside said duct;
a plurality of power plants and transmission means for conveying the rotational energy from said power plants to the said rotors;
control means for coordinating the power generated by the power plants to maintain the balance and stability of said vehicle and to rotate and move said vehicle in any direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A VSTOL vehicle comprising:
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a fuselage shaped to develop aerodynamic lift in a horizontal flight;
two pairs of ducts, fully enclosed fore and aft of said fuselage respectively, rigidly and non-pivotably connected to said fuselage, which are positioned around center of mass of said vehicle, and whose center axes are at various fixed angles between, but substantially different from, said vehicle'"'"'s vertical and longitudinal axes, such that full three dimensional attitude control can be achieved with torques produced by varying thrusts from said ducts;
each said duct having inside a rotor which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the duct to generate independent streams of airflow for propelling and stabilizing said vehicle, each said duct has a total axial length, as measured from the opening of the duct to its aft end where air flow exits, of at least more than half the diameter of the rotor inside said duct;
a plurality of power plants and transmission means for conveying the rotational energy from said power plants to the said rotors;
control means for coordinating the power generated by the power plants to maintain the balance and stability of said vehicle and to rotate and move said vehicle in any direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification