Abstract A disclike aircraft body is substantially a figure of revolution about a main axis and has a plurality of air ducts extending through the body in a direction parallel to said axis, the ducts being arranged in arcuate series except in the foremost and rearmost positions. Each of the ducts has individually controlled means for inducing airflow downwardly therethrough such as a fan rotating on an airflow axis parallel to the main axis or a thrust augmentor supplied with pressure gas from a common source. Downstream of the inducing means is an individually controlled rotary member movable about the airflow axis and having deflectors movable about transverse axes to govern the discharge of air from the ducts.
An aircraft comprising a disclike body that is substantially a figure of revolution about a main axis, a plurality of air ducts extending through said body in a direction parallel to said axis, said ducts being arranged in an arcuate series, a plurality of airflow-inducing means, means for mounting each of said inducing means in a respective one of said ducts for rotation about an airflow axis parallel to said main axis, and in which each of said airflow-inducing means includes a fan connected to power-driving means, means mounting said fan in gimbals to swing freely through a limited range relative to said body, and means responsive to the swinging movement of said fan relative to said body for controlling said power driving means, a plurality of rotary members, means for mounting each of said members on a respective one of said ducts downstream of said inducing means therein and for rotation about said airflow axis, parallel deflector vanes extending transversely of each of said rotary members, and means for deflecting said deflector vanes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An aircraft comprising a disclike body that is substantially a figure of revolution about a main axis, a plurality of air ducts extending through said body in a direction parallel to said axis, said ducts being arranged in an arcuate series, a plurality of airflow-inducing means, means for mounting each of said inducing means in a respective one of said ducts for rotation about an airflow axis parallel to said main axis, and in which each of said airflow-inducing means includes a fan connected to power-driving means, means mounting said fan in gimbals to swing freely through a limited range relative to said body, and means responsive to the swinging movement of said fan relative to said body for controlling said power driving means, a plurality of rotary members, means for mounting each of said members on a respective one of said ducts downstream of said inducing means therein and for rotation about said airflow axis, parallel deflector vanes extending transversely of each of said rotary members, and means for deflecting said deflector vanes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An aircraft as in claim 1 in which each of said airflow-inducing means is movable independently of the other airflow-inducing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An aircraft as in claim 1 including means associated individually with each one of said airflow-inducing means and responsive to shifting of the axis thereof in one plane out of parallelism with said main axis for controlling operation of said one of said airflow-inducing means.