AIRCRAFT USING LIFTING FANS

• US 3,752,417 A
• Filed: 06/23/1972
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prejean Lagace
• Original Assignee: Prejean Lagace
• Inventors: Lagace, Prejean
• Primary Examiner(s): Buchler, Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelmachter, Barry L.
• Application Number:
  US05/265,903
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 244/12,13,15,23,52,55,17.23,17.25 180/116,117
• US Class Current: 244/12.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage

Abstract

An aircraft of VTOL or STOL type is provided with at least one vertically extending duct in the fuselage containing an upper and a lower fan. Air valve means between the fans divide the duct into upper and lower regions and control the air from the upper fan to flow downward and/or into a duct extending rearwardly from the upper region. Other air valve means control the flow of air from a front duct into the lower region.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

a. a load-carrying fuselage;

b. a substantially vertically extending duct having an inlet at the upper surface of the fuselage and an outlet at the lower surface thereof;

c. an upper fan within the vertical duct adjacent the inlet thereof, said upper fan being operable to draw air downwardly into said vertical duct;

d. first engine means connected in driving relationship to said upper fan;

e. a lower fan within said vertical duct adjacent the outlet thereof, said lower fan being operable to expel air downwardly out from said vertical duct;

f. second engine means connected in driving relationship to said lower fan;

g. a front duct having an inlet at the front of said fuselage and an outlet opening into said vertical duct;

h. a rear duct having an inlet from said vertical duct and a rearwardly directed outlet;

i. first air valve means disposed within and dividing said vertical duct into an upper region, which includes the upper fan and the rear duct inlet, and a lower region, which includes the lower fan and the front duct outlet, said first air valve means being selectively actuable between an open position permitting air flow from the upper fan to the lower fan and a closed position directing air drawn by the upper fan to flow through the rear duct and causing air expelled by the lower fan to be drawn from the front duct;

j. steering control means operable to control the direction and attitude of the aircraft in flight.

2. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein second air valve means are provided within said front duct and third air valve means are provided within said rear duct, the second and third air valve means being selectively actuably to block air flow through the front and rear ducts during vertical flight of the aircraft.

3. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering control means comprises at least three steering ducts having outlets which surround the center of gravity of the aircraft and inlets which open onto said vertical duct, Each steering duct comprising an independently actuable air valve for controlling air flow through the steering duct.

4. An aircraft as claimed in claim 3, wherein second air valve means are provided within said front duct, and third air valve means are provided within said rear duct, the second and third valve means being selectively actuably to block air flow through the front and rear ducts during vertical flight of the aircraft.

5. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1 and comprising:

a pair of spaced substantially vertical ducts;

an upper fan within each vertical duct;

first engine means connected in driving relationship to both upper fans;

a lower fan within each vertical duct;

second engine means connected in driving relationship to both lower fans; and

first air valve means disposed within and dividing each vertical duct into upper and lower regions.

6. An aircraft as claimed in claim 5, wherein said steering control means comprises at least three steering ducts having outlets which surround the center of gravity of the aircraft and inlets open onto said vertical duct, each steering duct comprisng an independently actuable air valve for controlling air flow through the steering duct.

7. An aircraft as claimed in claim 5, wherein second air valve means are provided within said front duct and third air valve means are provided within said rear duct, the second and third air valve means being selectively actuably to block air flow through the front and rar ducts during vertical flight of the aircraft.