Cross-flow fan propulsion system
AssigneeSyracuse University
InventorsJoseph D. Kummer, Thong Q. Dang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cross-flow propulsion mechanism for use in providing propulsion to an aircraft, includes a housing defining an inlet, a rotor compartment, and an outlet. The inlet is adapted to receive an inflow of air along a first longitudinal axis. The rotor is mounted within the rotor compartment and adapted to receive the airflow introduced into the housing through the inlet and rotate about a second longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. The outlet is adapted to receive the airflow processed through the rotor and exhaust air along a third longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The propulsion mechanism can be applied in a personal aircraft, an STOL aircraft, and a hybrid automobile and aircraft.
Claims12
An aircraft, comprising:
- a. an aircraft body comprising an airfoil extending along a first axis from a leading edge to a trailing edge, and having a thickness to chord ratio greater than about twenty-five percent;
- and
- b. a cross-flow propulsion mechanism transversely mounted in said aircraft body and positioned adjacent said trailing edge thereof, said cross-flow propulsion mechanism comprising:
- i. a housing defining an inlet extending above said airfoil, a rotor compartment, and an outlet,
- ii. said inlet positioned on said aircraft body to receive an inflow of air along a second axis,
- iii. a rotor mounted partially within said rotor compartment to extend outwardly from said housing and said airfoil for receiving airflow along said airfoil and rotating about a third axis that is substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis;
- and
- iv. said outlet adapted to receive the airflow processed through said rotor and exhaust air along a fourth axis.
A vehicle convertible between land travel and air travel, comprising:
- a. a vehicle body shaped in the form of an airfoil having leading and trailing edges and a thickness to chord ratio of at least twenty-five percent;
- b. a cross-flow propulsion mechanism transversely mounted relative to said vehicle body adjacent said trailing edge thereof, said cross-flow propulsion mechanism comprising:
- i. a housing defining an inlet, a rotor compartment, and an outlet,
- ii. said inlet positioned outwardly from said compartment to receive an inflow of air along a first axis,
- iii. a rotor mounted partially within said rotor compartment and extending outwardly from said vehicle body for receiving airflow introduced into said housing through said inlet and about a second longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to said first axis;
- and
- iv. said outlet adapted to receive the airflow processed through said rotor and exhaust air along a third axis that is perpendicular to said second axis.
An aircraft, comprising:
- a. an aircraft body comprising an airfoil extending along a first axis from a leading edge to a trailing edge and a thickness to chord ratio of at least twenty-five percent;
- and
- b. first and second cross-flow propulsion mechanisms transversely mounted in said aircraft body and positioned adjacent said trailing edge thereof, wherein in each of said cross-flow propulsion mechanism comprises:
- i. a housing defining an inlet extending above said airfoil, a rotor compartment, and an outlet,
- ii. said inlet positioned on said aircraft body to receive an inflow of air along a second axis,
- iii. a rotor mounted partially within said rotor compartment to extend outwardly from said housing and said airfoil for receiving airflow along said airfoil and rotating about a third axis that is substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis;
- and
- iv. said outlet adapted to receive the airflow processed through said rotor and exhaust air along a fourth axis;
- and
- c. a control mechanism for collectively and differentially driving said first and second cross-flow propulsion mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.