Aircraft

US4519562A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• William Willis · New York, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 2, 1982
• Grant date: May 28, 1985
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2101/45
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is disclosed. In one embodiment designed for manned flight, the aircraft employs an aerodynamically-shaped body carrying a pair of lifting elements disposed longitudinally along the body on opposite sides thereof. The lifting elements extend outwardly and curve smoothly downward from a horizontal to a vertical orientation at the outboard edge. Lifting air is flowed over them transverse to the direction of flight. In a second embodiment designed for unmanned use such as cropdusting, military surveillance, or the like, the body is a single circular lifting element of parabolic cross-section. In both embodiments, a turbine is carried within the body to provide forward thrust and, primarily, a supply of pressurized air which is flowed through a nozzle slit opening outwardly over the tops of the lifting element(s) in confined segments. A porous aspirating member provides a divergent outer boundary to the airflow adjacent the tops of the lifting surfaces in a manner which induces augmenting air into the primary airstream in sufficient quantity to maintain the resultant combined airflow in a laminar flow to maximize lift.