Convertible ducted fan engine
AssigneeHyalta Aeronautics, Inc.
InventorScott R. Kempshall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A convertible ducted fan engine having a shroud, a drive shaft connected to a mechanical fan, and a rotational drive motor configured to rotate the mechanical fan. An embodiment includes a linear drive motor configured to translate the drive shaft and mechanical fan in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shroud. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud rotates about the rotational axis.
Claims20
A ducted fan engine, comprising:
- a mechanical fan in communication with a motor, the motor configured to cause the fan to rotate about a rotational axis, the mechanical fan having a plurality of blades concentrically arranged about the rotational axis;
- a shroud concentrically aligned with the mechanical fan about the rotational axis;
- a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan independently rotates with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow;
- and
- a drive-wheel configuration in which the motor causes rotation of the shroud about the rotational axis.
A ducted fan engine, comprising:
- a mechanical fan in communication with a motor via a drive shaft extending between the mechanical fan and the motor, the motor configured to rotate the drive shaft and fan about a rotational axis, wherein the mechanical fan has a plurality of blades concentrically arranged about the rotational axis;
- a shroud concentrically aligned with the mechanical fan about the rotational axis;
- a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan independently rotates with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow;
- and
- a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud is mechanically or electromagnetically engaged with at least the mechanical fan, a rotational body of the motor, or the drive shaft, such that the shroud rotates simultaneously with the mechanical fan.
A ducted fan engine, comprising:
- a mechanical fan in communication with a motor via a drive shaft extending between the mechanical fan and the motor, the motor configured to rotate the drive shaft and fan about a rotational axis, wherein the mechanical fan has a plurality of blades concentrically arranged about the rotational axis;
- a shroud concentrically aligned with the mechanical fan about the rotational axis, the shroud in mechanical communication with a concentrically aligned collar, wherein the collar is in mechanical communication with at least a portion of the motor;
- a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan independently rotates with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow;
- and
- a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud is mechanically or electromagnetically engaged with at least the mechanical fan, a rotational body of the motor, or the drive shaft, such that the shroud rotates simultaneously with the mechanical fan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.