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US 6,435,827 B1Granted
Apparatus for generating a fluid flow
OwnerJames Steinerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for generating a fluid flow is disclosed that circulates a plurality of spaced blades or airfoils attached to one or more drive belts about two or more spaced rotatable members. Each blade is commonly journalled with another blade. The inclination angles of each blade and each commonly journalled blade are independently controlled by a control mechanism.
Claims22
An apparatus for generating a fluid flow comprising:
- a support frame;
- two rotatable members mounted to said support frame, each said rotatable member configured for rotation about a respective axis;
- a motor operably coupled to at least one of said rotatable members, said motor selectively rotating the at least one rotatable member;
- a drive belt connecting the rotatable members and traversing a path, said drive belt traversing an upper flight and a lower flight;
- a plurality of shafts spaced along the path, each shaft pivotally coupled with said drive belt and oriented generally parallel to said axes of said rotatable members;
- a plurality of blade pairs each having first and second blades, wherein each said first blade is commonly journalled on a corresponding one of said shafts with one of said second blades such that each of said first and second blades is independently pivotal for providing a first and a second inclination angle, respectively;
- and
- a control mechanism coupled to each of said shafts, wherein the first and second inclination angles in each of the blade pairs is independently adjustable by the control mechanism.
5 more elements
An apparatus for generating a fluid flow comprising:
- a support frame;
- two rotatable members mounted to said support frame in a spaced relationship, each said rotatable member configured for rotation about respective, generally parallel axes;
- a motor operably coupled to at least one of said rotatable members, said motor selectively rotating the at least one rotatable member;
- a first and a second drive belt each connecting the rotatable members, said drive belts traversing respective paths and each having an upper flight and a lower flight;
- a first and a second control channel each attached to said support frame, said first and second control channels being associated with the first and second drive belts, respectively;
- a plurality of shaft pairs mounted between the drive belts and spaced along the respective paths, each shaft pair oriented generally parallel to said axes of said rotatable members, and each shaft pair having first and second shafts with respective ends commonly journalled together and respective opposite ends pivotally coupled to different ones of said drive belts;
- a plurality of blades each attached to one of said first and second shafts of each shaft pair, each blade having an independently-adjustable inclination angle;
- and
- a plurality of control links each coupling one of said first and second shafts to one of said control channels, wherein pairs of said control links are operative to independently move said first and second shafts in a shaft pair for independently adjusting the inclination angle of each blade attached to the commonly journalled shaft pair.
6 more elements
A propulsion system for an aircraft having an air frame, said propulsion system comprising:
- two rotatable members mounted to the air frame in a spaced relationship, each said rotatable member configured for rotation about a respective axis;
- a motor operably coupled to at least one of said rotatable members, said motor selectively rotating the at least one rotatable member;
- three drive belts connecting the rotatable members, said drive belts traversing a path having an upper flight and a lower flight;
- a first and a second control channel each attached to the air frame, said first and second control channels being associated with one of said drive belts;
- a plurality of shaft pairs mounted between the drive belts and spaced along the respective paths, each shaft pair oriented generally parallel to said axes of said rotatable members, and each shaft pair having first and second shafts with respective ends commonly journalled together and respective opposite ends pivotally coupled to different ones of said drive belts;
- a plurality of airfoils each attached to one of said first and second shafts of each shaft pair, each airfoil having an independently-adjustable inclination angle;
- and
- a plurality of control links each coupling one of said first and second shafts to one of said control channels, wherein pairs of said control links are operative to independently move said first and second shafts in a shaft pair for independently adjusting the inclination angle of each airfoil attached to the commonly journalled shaft pair.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.