Convertible Ducted Fan Shroud for Land-Water Propulsion Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current engines are single-purpose systems, requiring separate or reconfigurable drive systems for different mediums, leading to complexity, increased space, and fuel consumption in hybrid vehicles that operate on land and water.
Innovation Solution
A convertible ducted fan engine that transitions between fluid-propulsion and friction-based drive-wheel configurations using a shroud connected to a shroud shaft, a drive shaft, a rotational drive motor, and a linear drive motor, with mechanical, electro-mechanical, or electrical devices to facilitate both modes of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive systems are used for land and water vehicles, then each medium can be optimized independently, but the overall system complexity, space, and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single engine system that can perform multiple functions - operating as a fluid-propulsion engine for water vehicles and as a friction-based drive-wheel for land vehicles. The engine includes a shroud that can rotate relative to the engine body, allowing the same engine to generate thrust in fluid medium or provide rotational drive on land, eliminating the need for separate drive systems for different mediums
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the shroud rotatable relative to the engine body through a mounting system. The shroud can be positioned in different orientations - parallel to the ground for drive-wheel operation on land, and perpendicular for fluid-propulsion operation on water. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the single engine to adapt to different operational modes, reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive systems are used for land and water vehicles, then each medium can be optimized independently, but the space occupied and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single engine system that can perform multiple functions - operating as a fluid-propulsion engine for water vehicles and as a friction-based drive-wheel for land vehicles. The engine includes a shroud that can rotate relative to the engine body, allowing the same engine to generate thrust in fluid medium or provide rotational drive on land, eliminating the need for separate drive systems for different mediums
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies merging by combining the functions of separate land and water drive systems into a single integrated engine. The engine body, mounting system, and shroud work together as one unified system that can operate in both mediums, reducing the total volume required compared to having two separate drive systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive systems are used for land and water vehicles, then each medium can be optimized independently, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single engine system that can perform multiple functions - operating as a fluid-propulsion engine for water vehicles and as a friction-based drive-wheel for land vehicles. The engine includes a shroud that can rotate relative to the engine body, allowing the same engine to generate thrust in fluid medium or provide rotational drive on land, eliminating the need for separate drive systems for different mediums
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by ensuring the single engine system can continuously provide propulsion in both land and water mediums without requiring separate systems. The engine maintains its propulsive function across different operating modes, and the shroud rotation mechanism allows seamless transition between drive-wheel and fluid-propulsion configurations, maximizing energy utilization efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a single engine system to efficiently operate in both fluid-propulsion and drive-wheel configurations, reducing complexity, space, and fuel consumption while improving versatility and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a rotational drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft and mechanical fan
Implementation Method 2
a linear drive motor configured to translate the drive shaft and mechanical fan in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shroud shaft
Implementation Method 3
the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow
Implementation Method 4
at least one of the blades in the plurality of blades is in contact with or coupled to the shroud, thereby causing concurrent rotation of the shroud and mechanical fan
Data Source
AI summary
A convertible ducted fan engine and mounting system. The convertible ducted fan engine has a shroud encircling a mechanical fan. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud rotates about the rotational axis.