Aircraft Wing Integrated Ducted Fans

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current VTOL aircraft designs face challenges in efficiently managing flight phases and reducing part complexity for urban operations, particularly in integrating drive units that can handle take-off, transition, cruise, and landing while minimizing the number of individual components.

Innovation Solution

The integration of ducted fans into the wing surface with modular ducts and guide grilles, optimized for propeller drive, reduces shear losses and allows for cost-effective production by combining different construction variants of ducts and guide grilles, which are adhesively bonded for universal use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate drive units are used for different flight phases, then flight capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight phase capabilityVSAvoidnumber of drive units

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal drive unit that can perform multiple flight phases (vertical take-off, transition, cruise, and landing) using a single integrated propeller drive system. This eliminates the need for separate drive units for different flight phases, reducing device complexity while maintaining full flight capability across all phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If ducted fans are integrated into wing surface, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear lossesVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the ducted fan assembly directly into the wing surface structure, integrating the duct, propeller, and support elements as a unified component system. This integration reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies manufacturing while achieving the aerodynamic benefits of reduced shear losses through the ducted fan design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If modular ducts with guide grilles are used, then adaptability is improved, but part quantity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruction variant compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the duct structure into modular components with standardized cutouts that can accommodate different guide grille configurations. This segmentation allows various construction variants to be assembled from a limited set of standardized parts, achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing the total number of unique components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20220041264A1Aircraft, and the production thereof

Publication Date: 2022.02.10 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

An aircraft includes wings with integrated ducted fans. The ducted fans each have a duct with cutouts and a guide grille fitted into the cutouts. The guide grilles can be adhesively bonded into the cutouts. The ducted fans can have different construction variants of the duct, wherein the cutouts have a corresponding shape across all construction variants.