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US 7,677,502 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for generating lift
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsEdward L. Lawson, Christopher K. Droney, Darold B. Cummings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of generating lift for a vehicle including heating a flow of gas using a gas generator mounted on the vehicle that contributes no more than about ten percent of thrust used to propel the vehicle in a forward direction, and driving a lift fan using the heated gas flow to generate lift for the vehicle.
Claims23
A method of generating lift for an aircraft, said method comprising:
- heating a flow of gas using a gas generator mounted on the aircraft that contributes no more than about ten percent of thrust used to propel the aircraft in a forward direction;
- driving a lift fan using the heated gas flow to generate lift for the aircraft;
- and
- directing at least a portion of the heated gas exiting the lift fan over a wing control surface of the aircraft, including directing at least a portion of the heated gas over an internally blown flap (IBF) of the aircraft.
1 more element
An airframe comprising:
- a body;
- a wing coupled to the body;
- a gas generator mounted on the body for heating a flow of gas, said gas generator contributing no more than about ten percent of thrust used to propel the body in a forward direction;
- a lift fan mounted on the body for generating lift for the body, said lift fan being fluidically coupled with the gas generator for driving the lift fan from at least a portion of the heated gas flow;
- and
- an internally blown flap mounted on the wing for affecting an aerodynamic property of at least a portion of the wing, said lift fan being positioned on the body to direct at least a portion of the heated gas exiting the lift fan over the internally blown flap.
3 more elements
An aircraft comprising:
- a frame;
- a wing coupled to the frame;
- an engine mounted on the frame for propelling the aircraft in a forward direction;
- a gas generator mounted on the frame for heating a flow of gas, said gas generator contributing no more than about ten percent of thrust used to propel the aircraft in the forward direction;
- and
- a lift fan mounted on the frame for generating lift for the aircraft, said lift fan being fluidically coupled with the gas generator for driving the lift fan from at least a portion of the heated gas flow;
- and
- an internally blown flap mounted on the wing for affecting an aerodynamic property of at least a portion of the wing, said lift fan being positioned on the body to direct at least a portion of the heated gas exiting the lift fan over the internally blown flap.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.