Ducted fan device and aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024409210-A1
Application number	US-202218289177-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2022
Priority date	May 12, 2021
Publication date	Dec 12, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A ducted fan device includes: a plurality of fan devices each having a fan configured to be rotated about a first axis to generate an airflow and a cylindrical smaller duct surrounding the fan about the first axis and extending in a first axis direction; and a cylindrical larger duct extending in a second axis direction parallel to the first axis. Each of the fan devices is arranged on an inner side of the larger duct when viewed in the second axis direction. At least a part of the smaller duct is arranged outside the larger duct on an upstream side in a flow direction of an airflow when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the second axis.

First claim

1 . A ducted fan device comprising:
a plurality of fan devices each having a fan configured to be rotated about a first axis to generate an airflow and a cylindrical smaller duct surrounding the fan about the first axis and extending in a first axis direction; and a cylindrical larger duct extending in a second axis direction parallel to the first axis, wherein each of the fan devices is arranged on an inner side of the larger duct when viewed in the second axis direction, and wherein at least a part of the smaller duct is arranged outside the larger duct on an upstream side in a flow direction of an airflow when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the second axis.

2 . The ducted fan device according to claim 1 , wherein an end face on a downstream side in the flow direction of every smaller duct is located upstream in the flow direction with respect to an end face on the upstream side in the flow direction of the larger duct.

3 . The ducted fan device according to claim 2 , wherein when a dimension of the smaller duct along the first axis is defined as H, a distance along the second axis between the end face on the downstream side in the flow direction of the smaller duct and the end face on the upstream side in the flow direction of the larger duct is greater than or equal to 0H and less than or equal to 0.5H.

4 . The ducted fan device according to claim 1 ,
wherein an end face on a downstream side in the flow direction of every smaller duct is located downstream in the flow direction with respect to an end face on the upstream side in the flow direction of the larger duct, and wherein an end face on the upstream side in the flow direction of every smaller duct is located upstream in the flow direction with respect to an end face on the upstream side in the flow direction of the larger duct.

5 . The ducted fan device according to claim 4 , wherein when a dimension of the smaller duct along the first axis is defined as H, a distance along the second axis between the end face on the downstream side in the flow direction of the smaller duct and the end face on the upstream side in the flow direction of the larger duct is greater than 0H and less than or equal to 0.5H.

6 . The ducted fan device according to claim 1 , wherein the fan devices are arranged at equal angular intervals in a circumferential direction about the second axis.

7 . The ducted fan device according to claim 6 , wherein when a diameter of the smaller duct is defined as D, a length between the smaller ducts adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is greater than or equal to 0.5D and less than or equal to 1.5D.

8 . The ducted fan device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fan devices is driven separately by a corresponding electric motor.

9 . An aircraft comprising the ducted fan device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Morisaki Yuki
• Oda Masayuki
• Saiki Yasuhiro

Classifications

• B64C11/001

  Shrouded propellers · CPC title

• B64C29/00

  Aircraft capable of landing or taking-off vertically, e.g. vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (rotorcraft B64C27/00) · CPC title

• Y02T50/60

  Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft · CPC title

• B64C29/0091 Primary

  Accessories not provided for elsewhere · CPC title

• B64D27/30 Primary

  Aircraft characterised by electric power plants · CPC title