초록 ▼

A propulsion system for an airplane to permit it to achieve vertical and/or short take-offs and landings. The propulsion system is integrated into a wing/nacelle unit and includes a thrust vectoring system. A separate flow turbofan engine is mounted in each wing/nacelle unit. A system of three flaps

A propulsion system for an airplane to permit it to achieve vertical and/or short take-offs and landings. The propulsion system is integrated into a wing/nacelle unit and includes a thrust vectoring system. A separate flow turbofan engine is mounted in each wing/nacelle unit. A system of three flaps is located at the rear of each wing/nacelle unit for deflecting the turbofan engine exhaust downward, rearward, or any angle in between. These three flaps are arranged to provide a main thrust nozzle in the horizontal flight position without any additional flaps between them. One flap is located at the wing/nacelle upper surface trailing edge. Two slots are provided at the leading edge of this flap. The upper forward most slot is provided as an exit nozzle for the engine turbine exhaust, which is shrouded from the fan exhaust. The second of these two slots removes a portion of the high energy fan exhaust from the fan discharge duct and ejects it over a flap upper surface. The other two flaps are positioned such that, in the horizontal position they are both aligned with the wing/nacelle lower surface and in the vertical position, one is aligned with the wing/nacelle lower surface and the other is aligned with the wing/nacelle upper surface. When the flaps are in the vertical position, the aft most slot in the upper flap and a slot formed between the upper flap and the lower aft flap provide a means of improving the turning efficiency of the fan exhaust stream.

대표청구항 ▼

A propulsion system for a vertical and short takeoff and landing airplane, comprising: a nacelle having an upper surface and a lower surface forming an upper surface and a lower surface of an airfoil respectively; turbine driven fan means for forcing air through the nacelle; an upper flap located ne

A propulsion system for a vertical and short takeoff and landing airplane, comprising: a nacelle having an upper surface and a lower surface forming an upper surface and a lower surface of an airfoil respectively; turbine driven fan means for forcing air through the nacelle; an upper flap located near the trailing edge of the nacelle upper surface and forming a part of the airfoil upper surface, the upper flap being pivotal from a horizontal flight position generally aligned with the nacelle upper surface to a vertical flight position pointing generally downward; a lower flap adjacent the trailing edge of the nacelle lower surface and forming a part of the airfoil lower surface, the lower flap being pivotal from a horizontal flight position generally aligned with the nacelle lower surface to a vertical flight position pointing generally downward; and an intermediate flap secured to the nacelle and pivotal between a horizontal flight position in which the intermediate flap is rearward of the lower flap, generally aligned with the nacelle lower surface and forming a part of the airfoil lower surface and a vertical flight position in which the leading edge of the intermediate flap is adjacent the trailing edge of the upper flap and in which the intermediate flap points generally downward, becoming the trailing edge of the airfoil upper surface; in the horizontal flight position, the space between the upper flap and the intermediate flap defining a horizontal flight main thrust nozzle; and in the vertical flight position, the space between the lower flap and intermediate flap defining a vertical flight main thrust nozzle.