Ducted Fan Wing Louvers for Compact VTOL Lift and Cruise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing VTOL aircraft designs face challenges in achieving a compact design that allows for efficient lift and cruising flight while minimizing the impairment of lift performance due to 'holes' in the wing, and excessive reduction of ducted fans leads to reduced ducted fan performance during lift and transition phases.

Innovation Solution

Integration of lifting rotors into the wing profile, use of ducted fans with adjustable louvers and pivotable propellers, and a fast-charging battery system for fully electric operation, allowing for flexible thrust generation and wing surface optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If lifting rotors are integrated into the wing profile, then the aircraft achieves a compact design, but the lift performance is severely impaired due to holes in the wing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft footprintVSAvoidlift performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the wing surface movable and adjustable. The wing panels can change their configuration between horizontal flight mode (providing lift) and vertical flight mode (allowing ducted fan operation). This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by allowing the wing to adapt its shape and function based on the flight phase, rather than being fixed in one configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional wing surface to a three-dimensional reconfigurable structure. The wing panels can fold, rotate, and change their spatial arrangement, adding dimensional flexibility. This allows the same physical space to serve different functions: providing aerodynamic lift in horizontal flight and housing ducted fans in vertical flight, thus resolving the performance impairment caused by fixed-wing holes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If ducted fans are reduced in size to minimize wing hole impairment, then the wing integrity is improved, but the ducted fan performance is severely reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewing lift capabilityVSAvoidducted fan thrust

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The ducted fans are designed with adjustable pitch propellers that can dynamically change their blade angle according to flight conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows smaller ducted fans to generate adequate thrust by optimizing the propeller pitch, resolving the contradiction between reduced fan size and maintained thrust capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the ducted fan system by allowing the propeller pitch angle to be adjusted. This parameter change enables the system to compensate for reduced fan size, as the optimized pitch angle maximizes thrust efficiency. Additionally, the ducted fan housing can be adjusted to optimize airflow characteristics, further compensating for size reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If fixed ducted fans are used for horizontal flight, then the design is simplified, but the lift performance during vertical and transition phases is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveducted fan configurationVSAvoidflight phase performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The ducted fans are equipped with pivoting mechanisms that allow them to change orientation between horizontal and vertical positions. The propellers within each ducted fan can also pivot independently to adjust their thrust vector. This dynamic reconfigurability enables the same ducted fan system to provide effective thrust in both horizontal and vertical flight phases, resolving the contradiction between simplified design and multi-phase adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ducted fan system is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple roles: providing horizontal thrust during cruising flight, generating vertical lift during takeoff and landing, and assisting in transition phases. The ability of each ducted fan to pivot and adjust its propeller orientation makes it a multi-functional component that eliminates the need for separate propulsion systems for different flight phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration reduces air resistance, minimizes power requirements, and enhances lift performance across flight phases, enabling efficient vertical take-off, cruising, and landing operations with increased wing surface area without increasing the aircraft's footprint.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of ducted fans, including of different sizes, may be used to drive the aircraft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrust generation: Fan

Implementation Method 2

The cylindrical housing surrounding the fan may considerably reduce thrust losses caused by vortexes at the blade tips

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex reduction: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

The invention nevertheless allows for the fact that the lift performance for cruising flight and transition flight phases would be severely impaired by 'holes' in the wing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic lift: Aerofoil