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US 7,806,362 B2Granted
Ducted fan VTOL vehicles
AssigneeUrban Aeronautics Ltd.
InventorRaphael Yoeli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, two Ducted Fan lift-producing propellers carried by the fuselage on each side of the transverse axis, and a body formed in the fuselage between the lift-producing propellers. Many variations are described enabling deflection and affection of flow streams and reduction of drag and momentum drag which improve speed and forward flight of the vehicle. Also described are unique features applicable in any single or multiple ducted fans and VTOL vehicles.
Claims17
A ducted fan vehicle comprising:
- a forward duct and an aft duct disposed in a fuselage and defining a center body between said ducts;
- at least two lift-producing propellers, each disposed in one of said ducts;
- and
- means for introducing auxiliary airflow into at least said aft duct to cause an airflow portion close to said center body inside said aft duct to separate from said center body.
1 more element
A VTOL vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage defining a center body with lower part reshaped to affect airflow in favor of enhancing forward flight by reducing momentum drag;
- and
- at least one lift-producing propeller disposed in an open-ended duct next to the center body, said duct comprising a duct wall having at least one aperture therein, and a curved barrier enclosing at least portion of said propeller, said curved barrier moveable between open and closed position to thereby control airflow through said aperture into said open-ended duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.