Unconventional integrated propulsion systems and methods for blended wing body aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJames G. McComb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Integrated propulsion systems and methods for blended wing aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a propulsion system at least one engine operatively disposed within an engine flow duct having an engine inlet and an engine exhaust aperture, and at least one fan operatively disposed within a fan flow duct having a fan inlet and a fan exhaust aperture. The engine and fan rotational axes extending at least approximately along a lengthwise direction of the aircraft, the fan flow duct being separate from the engine flow duct. A transmission assembly is operatively coupled between the at least one engine and the at least one fan, the transmission assembly being configured to transmit a rotary output from the at least one engine to rotate the at least one fan.
Claims19
An aircraft comprising:
- an airfoil-shaped body;
- a plurality of fans having separate fan axes;
- a fan cowl on a surface of the body for forming a fan passageway for the plurality of fans, the fan passageway having a flush inlet;
- a plurality of engine cowls on at least one of an upper surface of the fan cowl and an opposite surface of the body;
- and
- a plurality of turbine engines for driving the fans, each engine inside an engine cowl;
- wherein the fan cowl is on an upper surface of the body and the engine cowls are on an upper outer surface of the fan cowl.
An aircraft comprising:
- an airfoil-shaped body;
- a plurality of fans having separate fan axes;
- a fan cowl on a surface of the body for forming a fan passageway for the plurality of fans, the fan passageway having a flush inlet;
- a plurality of engine cowls on at least one of an upper surface of the fan cowl and an opposite surface of the body;
- and
- a plurality of turbine engines for driving the fans, each engine inside an engine cowl;
- wherein the fan cowl is on an upper surface of the body;
- and wherein the engine cowls are on a lower surface of the body.
A Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft comprising:
- an airfoil-shaped fuselage;
- a plurality of fans having separate fan axes;
- a fan cowl on a surface of the fuselage for forming a fan passageway for the plurality of fans, the fan passageway having a flush inlet;
- a plurality of engine cowls on at least one of an upper surface of the fan cowl and an opposite surface of the fuselage;
- and
- a plurality of turbine engines for driving the fans, each engine inside an engine cowl.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.