Nacelle-integrated air-driven augmentor fan for increasing propulsor bypass ratio and efficiency

An aircraft comprising:

• an aircraft propulsor comprising:
• a nacelle,
• a turbofan engine comprising a core engine and a ducted fan driven by the core engine, the ducted fan circumscribed by the nacelle,
• an augmentor fan comprising a plurality of augmentor fan blades, the augmentor fan circumscribing the nacelle and configured to rotate mechanically independently of any turbofan engines, and
• at least one air flow path comprising:
• a duct at least partially housed within a portion of the nacelle;
• an inlet positioned to receive and pass air energized by the ducted fan to the duct;
• and
• an outlet positioned to exhaust the energized air from the duct to drive the augmentor fan;
• a fuselage;
• and
• a wing coupled to the fuselage, wherein the aircraft propulsor is coupled to at least one of the fuselage and the wing.

An aircraft propulsor comprising:

• a nacelle;
• a turbofan engine comprising a core engine and a ducted fan driven by the core engine, the ducted fan circumscribed by the nacelle;
• an augmentor fan comprising a plurality of augmentor fan blades, the augmentor fan circumscribing the nacelle and configured to rotate mechanically independently of any turbofan engines;
• and
• at least one air flow path with means for:
• receiving and passing air energized by the ducted fan,
• flowing the energized air to an outlet positioned to drive the augmentor fan,
• exhausting the energized air from the outlet, and
• driving, with energy from the energized air exhausted by the outlet, the augmentor fan.