Rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an embodiment of a rotational ducted fan motor comprises a monolithic rotational ducted fan rotor, an electric propulsion system, a static aft-shroud comprising electrochemical-energy-storage, and an engagement system. The rotational ducted fan rotor is the portion of a ducted fan motor comprising a propeller, a duct, and a center hub, and having the effect of increasing the pressure difference from upstream to downstream of the propeller. The electric propulsion system comprises permanent magnets affixed to the rotational ducted fan rotor, repelling magnetic coils affixed to the static aft-shroud and electrical power provided by the electrochemical-energy-storage comprised within the aft-shroud.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system for converting stored electrical energy into aircraft thrust propulsion, comprising:
 means for generally providing propulsion thrust to power aircraft;   means for providing an accelerated fluid flow across inlet control surface to decrease fluid pressure, accelerate fluid, and decrease upstream fluid pressure, creating lift;   means for creating thrust by converting rotational potential energy into linear thrust, creating a pressure difference of the fluid upstream of the propeller to the fluid downstream of the propeller, rigidly connected to said means for providing an accelerated fluid flow across inlet control surface to decrease fluid pressure, accelerate fluid, and decrease upstream fluid pressure, creating lift;   means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   means for converting rotational potential energy into thrust energy by accelerating intake fluids such as air across its dynamic intake control surface, creating a low pressure region that results in forward lift, rigidly connected to said means for creating thrust by converting rotational potential energy into linear thrust, creating a pressure difference of the fluid upstream of the propeller to the fluid downstream of the propeller, and rigidly connected to said means for providing an accelerated fluid flow across inlet control surface to decrease fluid pressure, accelerate fluid, and decrease upstream fluid pressure, creating lift;   means for providing a repelling thrust bearing to enable  304  to levitate, and to have frictionless bearing rotation;   means for providing a controlled drag surface of external static air-foil of propulsion motor, functionally constructed to said means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   means for providing magnetic thrust levitation between the rotational ducted fan rotor and the static aft shroud;   means for providing an opposing magnetic force whereby the axial rotation of the rotational ducted fan is generated, circumferentially embedded to said means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   means for converting electrical energy into magnetic field energy, insertably coupled to said means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   means for providing a magnetic field that acts against the  410  pulsor coil creating a levitating frictionless bearing;   means for providing a magnetic force field for the regenerative power clutch;   means for providing for electrochemical storage of electrical power, stoichiometrically housed to said means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   means for providing a method for servicing the electric coils and battery shroud segments, actively delineated to said means for generally providing propulsion thrust to power aircraft;   means for providing for the storage of electrochemical energy, converting electrical energy to magnetic fields, and contributing to the directionally laminar thrust of downstream fluid pressure;   means for provide an adjoining mounting structure that couples the top aft duct shroud  512  to an aircraft wing or aircraft fuselage to provide propulsion power for the aircraft;   means for providing a solid hinge for hanging exactly two shroud segments, replaceably connected to said means for providing for the storage of electrochemical energy, converting electrical energy to magnetic fields, and contributing to the directionally laminar thrust of downstream fluid pressure;   means for providing interface mount that completes the containment of the fluid-flow, provides aircraft mounting embodiment, provides hanger hinges or connections for removable shroud segments, substantially connected to said means for providing a solid hinge for hanging exactly two shroud segments, substantially connected to said means for provide an adjoining mounting structure that couples the top aft duct shroud  512  to an aircraft wing or aircraft fuselage to provide propulsion power for the aircraft, and alternately constructed to said means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   means for providing a hanger clasp arrangement to allow for installation and segment removal of the aft shroud electrical storage segments from the aft shroud aircraft mount; and   means for providing the subsystems that comprise the rotational ducted fan propulsion system, operationally encompassing to said means for providing a method for servicing the electric coils and battery shroud segments.   
     
     
         2 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for generally providing propulsion thrust to power aircraft comprises an assembly of rotational ducted fan rotor and shroud, made of nonferrous materials, aerodynamic for airflow bi-pass  102  rotational ducted fan motor. 
     
     
         3 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing an accelerated fluid flow across inlet control surface to decrease fluid pressure, accelerate fluid, and decrease upstream fluid pressure, creating lift comprises a dynamic airfoil, composite material, fluid accelerating control surface, convex control surface  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface. 
     
     
         4 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for creating thrust by converting rotational potential energy into linear thrust, creating a pressure difference of the fluid upstream of the propeller to the fluid downstream of the propeller comprises an airfoil with varying pitch cord lengths, made of composite material, lightweight and strong, affixed to inlet control surface of duct, a plurality of blades, airfoil forward lift control surfaces  106  rotor propeller blades. 
     
     
         5 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils comprises an aerodynamic exterior shape, smooth surfaces, alumina silica and composite construction, adiabatic design considerations, varying cord lengths for aerodynamic exterior to induce drag and increase pressure aft of system, at least a partially hollow core, solid and structurally rigid supporting magnetic repulsive field bearings  110  static aft shroud. 
     
     
         6 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for converting rotational potential energy into thrust energy by accelerating intake fluids such as air across its dynamic intake control surface, creating a low pressure region that results in forward lift comprises an aero-foil inlet  202  rotational ducted fan rotor inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a repelling thrust bearing to enable  304  to levitate, and to have frictionless bearing rotation comprises a gap between rotational ducted fan rotor and static aft shroud, frictionless  302  thrust magnetic field gap. 
     
     
         8 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a controlled drag surface of external static air-foil of propulsion motor comprises a convex exterior, generally round, without voids or uncontrolled wind-breaks  312  static aft shroud airfoil. 
     
     
         9 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing magnetic thrust levitation between the rotational ducted fan rotor and the static aft shroud comprises a plurality of neodymium magnets, arranged circumferentially around axis  208   406  permanent thrust magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing an opposing magnetic force whereby the axial rotation of the rotational ducted fan is generated comprises a plurality of magnetic coils  410  levitation magnetic coil. 
     
     
         11 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for converting electrical energy into magnetic field energy comprises an electrical coil  412  magnetic thrust field control coil. 
     
     
         12 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a magnetic field that acts against the  410  pulsor coil creating a levitating frictionless bearing comprises a plurality of neodymium magnets  414  permanent levitation bearing magnet. 
     
     
         13 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a magnetic force field for the regenerative power clutch comprises a neodymium permanent magnets  416  regenerative clutch permanent magnet. 
     
     
         14 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing for electrochemical storage of electrical power comprises an alumina silica shell, battery chemistry  418  electrochemical conversion chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a method for servicing the electric coils and battery shroud segments comprises a removable rotational ducted rotor, removable shroud batteries, fixed top shroud mount, permanent hanger hinges  502  systemic servicing detail. 
     
     
         16 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing for the storage of electrochemical energy, converting electrical energy to magnetic fields, and contributing to the directionally laminar thrust of downstream fluid pressure comprises a removable, convex outer exterior, comprising a number of magnetic coils  504  static aft shroud electrochemical storage segment, having electrochemical storage cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for provide an adjoining mounting structure that couples the top aft duct shroud  512  to an aircraft wing or aircraft fuselage to provide propulsion power for the aircraft comprises a  508  aircraft mount, having aerodynamic exterior shape. 
     
     
         18 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a solid hinge for hanging exactly two shroud segments comprises a solid high strength bar, affixed to  508  mount segment  512  aft shroud segment hinge rack. 
     
     
         19 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing interface mount that completes the containment of the fluid-flow, provides aircraft mounting embodiment, provides hanger hinges or connections for removable shroud segments comprises a  514  upper aft shroud duct segment. 
     
     
         20 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing a hanger clasp arrangement to allow for installation and segment removal of the aft shroud electrical storage segments from the aft shroud aircraft mount comprises a cavity containing electrochemical materials for storing electrical current in its core, comprising a composite hook on the exterior of the shroud shell  606  aft serviceable shroud segment. 
     
     
         21 . The rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing the subsystems that comprise the rotational ducted fan propulsion system comprises a  902  rdf propulsion system. 
     
     
         22 . A rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system for converting stored electrical energy into aircraft thrust propulsion, comprising:
 an assembly of rotational ducted fan rotor and shroud, made of nonferrous materials, aerodynamic for airflow bi-pass  102  rotational ducted fan motor, for generally providing propulsion thrust to power aircraft;   a dynamic airfoil, composite material, fluid accelerating control surface, convex control surface  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface, for providing an accelerated fluid flow across inlet control surface to decrease fluid pressure, accelerate fluid, and decrease upstream fluid pressure, creating lift;   an airfoil with varying pitch cord lengths, made of composite material, lightweight and strong, affixed to inlet control surface of duct, a plurality of blades, airfoil forward lift control surfaces  106  rotor propeller blades, for creating thrust by converting rotational potential energy into linear thrust, creating a pressure difference of the fluid upstream of the propeller to the fluid downstream of the propeller, rigidly connected to said  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface;   an aerodynamic exterior shape, smooth surfaces, alumina silica and composite construction, adiabatic design considerations, varying cord lengths for aerodynamic exterior to induce drag and increase pressure aft of system, at least a partially hollow core, solid and structurally rigid supporting magnetic repulsive field bearings  110  static aft shroud, for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   an aero-foil inlet  202  rotational ducted fan rotor inlet, for converting rotational potential energy into thrust energy by accelerating intake fluids such as air across its dynamic intake control surface, creating a low pressure region that results in forward lift, rigidly connected to said  106  rotor propeller blades, and rigidly connected to said  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface;   a gap between rotational ducted fan rotor and static aft shroud, frictionless  302  thrust magnetic field gap, for providing a repelling thrust bearing to enable  304  to levitate, and to have frictionless bearing rotation;   a convex exterior, generally round, without voids or uncontrolled wind-breaks  312  static aft shroud airfoil, for providing a controlled drag surface of external static air-foil of propulsion motor, functionally constructed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a plurality of neodymium magnets, arranged circumferentially around axis  208   406  permanent thrust magnet, for providing magnetic thrust levitation between the rotational ducted fan rotor and the static aft shroud;   a plurality of magnetic coils  410  levitation magnetic coil, for providing an opposing magnetic force whereby the axial rotation of the rotational ducted fan is generated, circumferentially embedded to said  110  static aft shroud;   an electrical coil  412  magnetic thrust field control coil, for converting electrical energy into magnetic field energy, insertably coupled to said  110  static aft shroud;   a plurality of neodymium magnets  414  permanent levitation bearing magnet, for providing a magnetic field that acts against the  410  pulsor coil creating a levitating frictionless bearing;   a neodymium permanent magnets  416  regenerative clutch permanent magnet, for providing a magnetic force field for the regenerative power clutch;   an alumina silica shell, battery chemistry  418  electrochemical conversion chamber, for providing for electrochemical storage of electrical power, stoichiometrically housed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a removable rotational ducted rotor, removable shroud batteries, fixed top shroud mount, permanent hanger hinges  502  systemic servicing detail, for providing a method for servicing the electric coils and battery shroud segments, actively delineated to said  102  rotational ducted fan motor;   a removable, convex outer exterior, comprising a number of magnetic coils  504  static aft shroud electrochemical storage segment, having electrochemical storage cavity, for providing for the storage of electrochemical energy, converting electrical energy to magnetic fields, and contributing to the directionally laminar thrust of downstream fluid pressure;   a  508  aircraft mount, having aerodynamic exterior shape, for provide an adjoining mounting structure that couples the top aft duct shroud  512  to an aircraft wing or aircraft fuselage to provide propulsion power for the aircraft;   a solid high strength bar, affixed to  508  mount segment  512  aft shroud segment hinge rack, for providing a solid hinge for hanging exactly two shroud segments, replaceably connected to said  504  static aft shroud electrochemical storage segment;   a  514  upper aft shroud duct segment, for providing interface mount that completes the containment of the fluid-flow, provides aircraft mounting embodiment, provides hanger hinges or connections for removable shroud segments, substantially connected to said  512  aft shroud segment hinge rack, substantially connected to said  508  aircraft mount, and alternately constructed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a cavity containing electrochemical materials for storing electrical current in its core, comprising a composite hook on the exterior of the shroud shell  606  aft serviceable shroud segment, for providing a hanger clasp arrangement to allow for installation and segment removal of the aft shroud electrical storage segments from the aft shroud aircraft mount; and   a  902  rdf propulsion system, for providing the subsystems that comprise the rotational ducted fan propulsion system, operationally encompassing to said  502  systemic servicing detail.   
     
     
         23 . A rotational ducted fan (rdf) propulsion system for converting stored electrical energy into aircraft thrust propulsion, comprising:
 an assembly of rotational ducted fan rotor and shroud, made of nonferrous materials, aerodynamic for airflow bi-pass  102  rotational ducted fan motor, for generally providing propulsion thrust to power aircraft;   a dynamic airfoil, composite material, fluid accelerating control surface, convex control surface  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface, for providing an accelerated fluid flow across inlet control surface to decrease fluid pressure, accelerate fluid, and decrease upstream fluid pressure, creating lift;   an airfoil with varying pitch cord lengths, made of composite material, lightweight and strong, affixed to inlet control surface of duct, a plurality of blades, airfoil forward lift control surfaces  106  rotor propeller blades, for creating thrust by converting rotational potential energy into linear thrust, creating a pressure difference of the fluid upstream of the propeller to the fluid downstream of the propeller, rigidly connected to said  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface;   a composite or generally non-ferrous alloys, affixed to rotor propeller blade root inclusive of both leading and trailing edge, cylindrical, axis of rotation is parallel to cylindricity  108  center hub, for providing a monolithic connection for all propeller blades, and comprising permanent magnets to create magnetic field for coupling with regenerative power clutch, rigidly connected to said  106  rotor propeller blades;   an aerodynamic exterior shape, smooth surfaces, alumina silica and composite construction, adiabatic design considerations, varying cord lengths for aerodynamic exterior to induce drag and increase pressure aft of system, at least a partially hollow core, solid and structurally rigid supporting magnetic repulsive field bearings  110  static aft shroud, for providing an aerodynamic control surface for low velocity fluid flow, with varying cord lengths of exterior aerodynamic design, comprising of housing core to store electrochemical energy, and providing the rigid static bearing housing that contains magnetic levitation coils;   an aero-foil inlet  202  rotational ducted fan rotor inlet, for converting rotational potential energy into thrust energy by accelerating intake fluids such as air across its dynamic intake control surface, creating a low pressure region that results in forward lift, rigidly connected to said  106  rotor propeller blades, and rigidly connected to said  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface;   a gap between rotational ducted fan rotor and static aft shroud, frictionless  302  thrust magnetic field gap, for providing a repelling thrust bearing to enable  304  to levitate, and to have frictionless bearing rotation;   a concave surface of airfoil  304  rotational ducted fan rotor, for providing a concave airfoil surface to create drag for the forward thrust, rigidly connected to said  202  rotational ducted fan rotor inlet, rotationally connected to said  110  static aft shroud, and magnetically housed to said  102  rotational ducted fan motor;   a textured surface, smooth, without disruptions, made of composite material, lightweight and rigid  308  rotational leading edge, for providing a forward control surface comprised at the leading edge of the rotational ducted fan rotor  202  at its forward most edge, and acting as a fluidic gate that creates an orbital low pressure surface causing forward (upstream) lift, rigidly connected to said  202  rotational ducted fan rotor inlet, and rigidly connected to said  104  rotational ducted fan inlet surface;   a smooth surface, parallel inner control surface to axis of rotation  208   310  aft shroud exit surface, for contributing to laminar flow of exit fluid pressure with no eddie current disruptions;   a convex exterior, generally round, without voids or uncontrolled wind-breaks  312  static aft shroud airfoil, for providing a controlled drag surface of external static air-foil of propulsion motor, functionally constructed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a solid, composite  402  static duct bi-directional thrust bearing. structure, for provide a strong and light weight structure to mount magnetic coils and connectors, structurally constructed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a plurality of neodymium magnets, arranged circumferentially around axis  208   406  permanent thrust magnet, for providing magnetic thrust levitation between the rotational ducted fan rotor and the static aft shroud, circumferentially fastened to said  304  rotational ducted fan rotor;   a plurality of magnetic coils  410  levitation magnetic coil, for providing an opposing magnetic force whereby the axial rotation of the rotational ducted fan is generated, circumferentially embedded to said  110  static aft shroud;   an electrical coil  412  magnetic thrust field control coil, for converting electrical energy into magnetic field energy, insertably coupled to said  110  static aft shroud;   a plurality of neodymium magnets  414  permanent levitation bearing magnet, for providing a magnetic field that acts against the  410  pulsor coil creating a levitating frictionless bearing, rigidly embedded to said  304  rotational ducted fan rotor;   a neodymium permanent magnets  416  regenerative clutch permanent magnet, for providing a magnetic force field for the regenerative power clutch, rigidly embedded to said  108  center hub;   an alumina silica shell, battery chemistry  418  electrochemical conversion chamber, for providing for electrochemical storage of electrical power, stoichiometrically housed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a removable rotational ducted rotor, removable shroud batteries, fixed top shroud mount, permanent hanger hinges  502  systemic servicing detail, for providing a method for servicing the electric coils and battery shroud segments, actively delineated to said  102  rotational ducted fan motor;   a removable, convex outer exterior, comprising a number of magnetic coils  504  static aft shroud electrochemical storage segment, having electrochemical storage cavity, for providing for the storage of electrochemical energy, converting electrical energy to magnetic fields, and contributing to the directionally laminar thrust of downstream fluid pressure;   a  508  aircraft mount, having aerodynamic exterior shape, for provide an adjoining mounting structure that couples the top aft duct shroud  512  to an aircraft wing or aircraft fuselage to provide propulsion power for the aircraft;   a solid high strength bar, affixed to  508  mount segment  512  aft shroud segment hinge rack, for providing a solid hinge for hanging exactly two shroud segments, replaceably connected to said  504  static aft shroud electrochemical storage segment;   a  514  upper aft shroud duct segment, for providing interface mount that completes the containment of the fluid-flow, provides aircraft mounting embodiment, provides hanger hinges or connections for removable shroud segments, substantially connected to said  512  aft shroud segment hinge rack, substantially connected to said  508  aircraft mount, and alternately constructed to said  110  static aft shroud;   a cavity containing electrochemical materials for storing electrical current in its core, comprising a composite hook on the exterior of the shroud shell  606  aft serviceable shroud segment, for providing a hanger clasp arrangement to allow for installation and segment removal of the aft shroud electrical storage segments from the aft shroud aircraft mount;   a  612  aft shroud mounting hooks, for provided for connecting serviceable shroud segments to upper shroud segment enabling serviceable motion and removal, rigidly connected to said  606  aft serviceable shroud segment, and removably connected to said  512  aft shroud segment hinge rack;   a  702  rotational ducted fan propulsion systems application drawing, for providing an example for a variety of propulsion mounting locations on aircraft;   a  710  fuselage, for providing for cargo, persons, or equipment occupation;   a  902  rdf propulsion system, for providing the subsystems that comprise the rotational ducted fan propulsion system, operationally encompassing to said  502  systemic servicing detail; and   a  906  iterative current control module (iccm), for providing the electro-magnetic field cycle on-off switching between coils, actively encompassing to said  902  RDF Propulsion System, electrically connected to said  412  magnetic thrust field control coil, and electrically connected to said  410  levitation magnetic coil.