Propulsion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022219828-A1
Application number	US-202217568106-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2022
Priority date	Jan 8, 2021
Publication date	Jul 14, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A propulsion device includes: a duct in which a flow path extending in a direction of an axis; a fan which is provided with a) an outer peripheral ring formed in an annular shape surrounding the axis and installed to be relatively rotatable around the axis with respect to the duct, b) a plurality of fan blades arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction such that each blade is extended from the outer peripheral ring toward the inside of the flow path, and c) an inner peripheral ring formed in an annular shape being connected radially inner end portions of the plurality of fan blades and in which an air flow passage is formed so that air flows therethrough in the direction of the axis; and a motor which drives the fan to rotate around the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A propulsion device comprising:
a duct in which a flow path extending in a direction of an axis is formed; a fan which is provided with
a) an outer peripheral ring formed in an annular shape surrounding the axis and installed to be relatively rotatable around the axis with respect to the duct,
b) a plurality of fan blades arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction such that each blade is extended from the outer peripheral ring toward the inside of the flow path, and
c) an inner peripheral ring formed in a annular shape being connected radially inner end portions of the plurality of fan blades and in which an air flow passage is formed so that air flows therethrough in the direction of the axis; and
a motor which is configured to drive the fan to rotate around the axis.

2 . The propulsion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the air flow passage has a circular cross-sectional shape when viewed from a first side in the direction of the axis.

3 . The propulsion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a radial dimension of the air flow passage is constant from the first side toward a second side in the direction of the axis.

4 . The propulsion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a radial dimension of the air flow passage is gradually expanded from the first side toward the second side in the direction of the axis.

5 . The propulsion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the inner peripheral ring has an airfoil cross-sectional shape extending from the first side toward the second side in the direction of the axis in a cross-sectional view including the axis.

6 . The propulsion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein an end surface of the inner peripheral ring at the first side in the direction of the axis is protruded in a curved shape toward the first side.

7 . The propulsion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer bearing supporting the outer peripheral ring to be rotatable with respect to the duct.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Karikomi Kai
• Morisaki Yuki
• Hosono Kazuki
• Iwatani Junji

Classifications

• B64D35/02

  specially adapted for specific power plants · CPC title

• B64D27/31

  within, or attached to, wings · CPC title

• B64D27/33

  Hybrid electric aircraft · CPC title

• B64C11/001 Primary

  Shrouded propellers · CPC title

• F04D29/321

  for axial flow compressors · CPC title