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US 4,307,857 AGranted
Ducted fan unit
OwnerByron L. Godberseninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ducted fan unit is installed in a scale model airplane the unit being positioned centrally within the hollowed fuselage, and including an engine, with fan assembled thereto, secured to an aerodynamically sleek mounting bracket, the mounting bracket is secured to a cowl and positions the fan within the forward portion of the cowl, the rearward portion of the cowl includes a flow straightener having radially disposed spokes with curved forward portions to deflect the air flow linearly.
Claims10
In a model airplane, having an engine, a ducted fan unit, comprising:
- a fan means secured to said engine and comprising a plurality of blades radially disposed from a first cylindrical hub said fan means drawing in an intake air flow and discharging a spiraling air flow;
- a cowl means for channeling said intake air flow and said spiraling air flow, said cowl means being cylindrical;
- a means for straightening said spiraling air flow, said flow straightening means being enclosed within a rearward portion of said cowl means and being comprised of a plurality of web shaped spoke members disposed radially about a second hollow cylindrical hub portion, said cylindrical cowl having a horizontal axis, said spoke members being disposed in a first vertical plane, said first vertical plane being perpendicular to said horizontal axis, said cowl having a substantially cylindrical inside surface, each of said spoke members being secured at a first end to said inside surface, and at a second end to said second cylindrical hub;
- and
- a means for mounting said engine, said mounting means securing said engine so that said fan means is positioned in a forward portion of said cowl means, said mounting means comprising a three-point bracket, said three-point bracket having three curved arms, each of said arms originating at a U-shaped engine mount portion and terminating in a securing bolt receiving collar, each of said securing bolt receiving collars being suitable for receiving a long bolt, each of said long bolts being inserted through one of said receiving collars and through a first mating aperture in a lip portion of said cowl, a nut being threaded on each of said bolts to secure said three-point bracket to said cowl, said engine mount portion securing said engine so that said fan is positioned in said forward portion of said cowl in a second vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal axis of said cowl, said forward portion of said cowl enclosing said fan so that said spiraling air flow discharged from said fan impinges upon said flow straightening element and is thereby transformed to a straightened air flow by said flow straightening element.
2 more elements
In a model airplane having an engine, a ducted fan unit, comprising:
- a fan means for propelling said airplane;
- said fan means being rigidly secured to said engine for rotation;
- a bracket means for securing said engine in an upwind direction with respect to said fan means;
- a cowl means for channeling an air flow, said cowl means being rigidly secured to said bracket means so that said fan means is positioned within a forward portion of said cowl means, said cowl means also having a rearward portion;
- a flow straightening means for converting a spiraling air flow discharged from said fan means into a straightened air flow, said flow straightening means being rigidly secured within said rearward portion of said cowl means;
- and
- a mounting means, for securement of said cowl means and said bracket means to an inner surface of a hollowed fuselage of said airplane, said hollowed fuselage having a belly opening, and said mounting means securing said cowl means rearward of said belly opening to provide a continuous airflow to said cowl means through said belly opening, said engine being accessible through said belly opening, wherein said bracket means secures said engine in a downward direction, said engine having a carburetor, and said carburetor being accessible for adjustment through said belly opening.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.