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US 2026/0233828 A1Published application
Ducted fan air vehicle
AssigneeVenture Kel Inc.
InventorsPhilip Kelly, Gemma Venturino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ducted fan(s) is embedded in a duct in a vehicle (such as an air vehicle) with a shaped and enhanced aerodynamic intake(s) interacting with a primary purpose of lift inducement, with the exhaust(s) primary purpose as a lift system with containment to optimize lift and deflection at the outlet for the secondary purpose of control.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a vehicle;
- and
- an aerodynamically enhanced ducted fan system configured to be mounted to the vehicle and to urge movement of the vehicle.
A method of inducing lift and providing control for a ducted fan vehicle, the method comprising:
- activating a ducted fan system embedded in a vehicle airframe;
- manipulating an intake cowl between a retracted hover position and a deployed forward-flight position to optimize airflow velocity and drag;
- capturing a recirculating thrust bubble between a plurality of exhaust strakes to provide ground-effect lift;
- and
- deflecting air at a duct outlet via a plurality of vanes to induce lateral movement without reducing overall vehicle lift.
2 more elements
A heavy-lift ducted fan vehicle system, comprising:
- at least one ducted fan embedded within a vehicle structure, the ducted fan including a duct housing and an internal impeller;
- an aerodynamic intake comprising one or more bifurcated intake slats and one or more movable intake cowls configured to retract during a hover phase;
- and
- an exhaust system comprising one or more vertical exhaust strakes, and at least one forward exhaust vane, wherein the strakes are configured to contain a high-pressure air region beneath the vehicle when in ground effect.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.