VTOL Aircraft Cylindrical Wing Ring Impellers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft technologies for Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) face limitations such as noise, complexity, high costs, and inefficiencies, particularly in helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, which hinder their widespread adoption for both military and civilian applications.
Innovation Solution
A powered-lift VTOL aircraft design featuring a cylindrical wing with rotatable ring impellers that provide lift and thrust, allowing for vertical takeoff, hover, and aerodynamic flight, while maintaining a constant cockpit attitude through an attitude control system and asymmetric impeller blade pitch control, enabling seamless transitions between flight modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If helicopters are used for VTOL, then vertical takeoff and landing capability is achieved, but noise and open rotor threats increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blades are enclosed within a shrouded structure, nesting the rotating components inside a protective housing. This eliminates the open rotor threat to ground personnel and pedestrians while containing noise within the shroud, directly resolving the contradiction between VTOL capability and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials and designs that prioritize safety and noise reduction over traditional helicopter construction, accepting increased complexity and cost as trade-offs to eliminate the harmful effects of open rotors and excessive noise.
2Ease of operation
If tilt-rotor aircraft are used for VTOL, then vertical takeoff and landing capability is achieved, but complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft is divided into functionally independent segments: a fixed-wing aircraft body and a separate, removable rotor assembly. This segmentation allows the complex VTOL capability to be achieved through modular components rather than integrating complex tilt mechanisms into the entire aircraft structure, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor assembly is designed to be dynamically adjustable in its mounting configuration, allowing it to transition between vertical and horizontal positions. This dynamic adjustment capability provides VTOL functionality without requiring the entire aircraft structure to be complex and movable, as only the rotor portion needs dynamic reconfiguration.
3Ease of operation
If thrust vectoring is used for VTOL, then vertical takeoff and landing capability is achieved, but noise and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic rotation of the rotor assembly to achieve thrust vectoring effects, alternating between vertical and horizontal orientations. This periodic reconfiguration replaces continuous thrust vectoring mechanisms, reducing noise and cost while maintaining VTOL capability through rhythmic, controlled transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust vectoring function is extracted from the main engine system and implemented separately through the removable rotor assembly. This separation allows VTOL capability to be achieved without modifying the primary propulsion system, avoiding the noise and cost penalties associated with integrated thrust vectoring in conventional aircraft.
4Speed
If conventional aircraft are used, then aerodynamic flight is achieved, but runway dependency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft is designed with multi-functionality, combining fixed-wing aerodynamic flight capability with removable rotor assemblies that enable VTOL operations. This universality allows the same platform to perform both conventional runway-based flight and vertical takeoff/landing, eliminating runway dependency while maintaining high-speed aerodynamic performance.
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
The design offers a more efficient, quieter, and cost-effective VTOL solution that overcomes the limitations of existing aircraft, providing a versatile platform for military and civilian use with improved maneuverability and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
one or more rotatable ring impellers that create(s) thrust sufficient to achieve lift, or 'powered-lift'
Implementation Method 2
asymmetric impeller blade pitch control, enabling seamless transitions between flight modes
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft capable of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and traverse flight. The aircraft generally includes a fixed outer structure including at least a generally cylindrical wing having an internal body situated within the fixed outer structure. A space is defined between the internal body and the fixed outer structure. Within this space are one or more rotatable ring impellers that create(s) thrust sufficient to achieve lift for the aircraft.