Vehicle adapted to land and air travel

Claim 2

A heavier than air vehicle adapted for land and air travel comprising, an elongated fuselage, a first duct extending longitudinally therein having an opening at the front and an exit at the rear of said fuselage, means mounted within said first duct for creating an airstream axially therethrough, a second separate duct free of communication with and extending laterally about said first duct substantially along the length thereof and with an opening on the upper surface and an exit on the lower surface of said fuselage, means mounted within said second duct having actuating means located within said first duct and operable by said air stream therein for causing a flow of air from the upper surface of said fuselage through said second duct to be expelled from the exit in said lower surface, whereby the combined flow of air sustains said vehicle in movement.

Claim 3

The vehicle according to claim 1 including means for regulating the airstream through the first duct.

Claim 4

The vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the means for regulating the air flow includes shutter means located at the opening of the first duct to control the amount air flowing therein.

Claim 5

The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the exit from the second duct comprises a slot within tHe lower surface of the fuselage, said slot extending along the periphery of said fuselage.

Claim 6

The vehicle according to claim 1 including a rudder and elevator for steering said fuselage in flight.

Claim 7

The vehicle according to claim 1 including steerable wheels for maneuvering said fuselage on the ground.

Claim 8

A heavier than air vehicle comprising, an elongated substantially hollow fuselage structure having openings in its upper and lower surfaces, permitting air to flow substantially vertically therethrough, fan means located within said fuselage for causing air to flow in the vertical direction, an air duct free of communication with said openings located within said fuselage and surrounded by said openings in the upper and lower surfaces and extending longitudinally therethrough, said duct having openings extending out of the front and rear of said fuselage to permit an airstream to flow axially therethrough, said fan means comprising an impeller blade, a freely rotatable shaft extending from said impeller blade into said duct and paddle means connected to said shaft whereby the airstream within said duct will cause rotation of said impeller blade and flow of air outwardly of said lower surface, thereby imparting vertical movement to said vehicle. 8. The vehicle according to claim 7 including propeller means located within the longitudinal duct and means for causing said propeller to create the airstream within said duct and imparting horizontal movement to the vehicle while simultaneously operating the fan means.

Claim 9

The vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the fuselage structure comprises a substantially transcendental ellipsoidal upper foil surface having a substantially flat central portion and a depending skirt end in a planar peripheral edge and a substantially flat lower foil surface joined along its periphery to said edge, whereby the fan means causes air to be sucked from the upper foil surface and expelled substantially vertically below said lower foil surface.

Claim 10

The vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the lower openings in the fuselage extend in a line substantially along the periphery thereof so that air expelled therefrom creates a barrier around the lower foil surface.

Claim 11

The vehicle according to claim 9 including a curved substantially horizontally extending partition mounted centrally of said lower foil surface within said fuselage to form said longitudinal duct and said upper and lower foil surface at the front and rear openings therein.

Claim 12

The vehicle according to claim 11 including a variable orifice located within said front fuselage opening to regulate the flow of the airstream through the longitudinal duct.

Claim 13

The vehicle according to claim 11 including vertical converging wall members within the longitudinal duct to provide a venturi effect on the airstream flowing therein.

Claim 14

The vehicle according to claim 13 including a second partition within said fuselage, said second partition extending longitudinally along the center line of the upper foil surface to divide said fuselage in two sections, each section having openings in their upper and lower surfaces and fan means for the vertical flow of air therethrough.

Claim 15

The vehicle according to claim 14 wherein said fuselage is provided with a dihedral configuration along the center line thereof.

Claim 16

The vehicle according to claim 15 wherein a plurality of fan means are employed, said fans being disposed in uniformly spaced rows on opposite sides of the central line of the upper foil member, said impeller blade being disposed substantially in the plane of the central portion of the upper foil surface.

Claim 17

The vehicle according to claim 15 including a louvered cover disposed over said impeller blade to effect greater flow of air along the boundary layer of the foil surface.

Claim 18

A heavier than air vehicle comprising an elongated substantially hollow fuselage having an upper foil surface and lower foil surface spaced therefrom, said upper foil surface deFining a substantially flat longitudinal central portion and a peripheral skirt depending therefrom, a partition substantially parallel to said upper foil located between said upper and lower foils to provide an interior chamber extending longitudinally of said fuselage and an exterior chamber surrounding said interior chamber, said chambers being separated from communication with each other by said partition opening in the forward and rear end of said interior chamber to form a longitudinal duct therefrom, and openings in the upper and lower foils in said exterior chamber to form a vertical duct therefrom, fan means located in the opening of said upper foil, said fan mounted on a shaft extending into said longitudinal duct, and paddle means secured to said shaft within said longitudinal duct whereby air flow through said longitudinal duct causes rotation of said fan means and simultaneous airflow in said vertical duct.

Claim 19

A heavier than air vehicle comprising an elongated substantially hollow fuselage having an upper foil surface and lower foil surface spaced therefrom, said upper foil surface deFining a substantially flat longitudinal central portion and a peripheral skirt depending therefrom, a partition substantially parallel to said upper foil located between said upper and lower foils to provide an interior chamber extending longitudinally of said fuselage and an exterior chamber surrounding said interior chamber, said chambers being separated from communication with each other by said partition opening in the forward and rear end of said interior chamber to form a longitudinal duct therefrom, and openings in the upper and lower foils in said exterior chamber to form a vertical duct therefrom, fan means located in the opening of said upper foil, said fan mounted on a shaft extending into said longitudinal duct, and paddle means secured to said shaft within said longitudinal duct whereby air flow through said longitudinal duct causes rotation of said fan means and simultaneous airflow in said vertical duct.

Claim 20

The vehicle according to claim 18 wherein said upper foil is provided with a plurality of openings, each of which having a fan means having a shaft and paddle means extending within said longitudinal duct.

Claim 21

The vehicle according to claim 19 wherein said opening in said lower foil comprises a continuous opening along each of the longitudinal peripheral side edges of said fuselage.

Claim 22

The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein said longitudinal duct is provided with a fan means and motor means for rotating said fan means to provide for an axial flow of air therethrough.