Quiet slat propeller

Abstract

A propeller for an aircraft having a fuselage and a pair of fixed wings includes a mounting member secured to at least one wing. At least one blade is rotatably connected to each mounting member and has an airfoil shape. The at least one blade is in a locked condition during take-off and landing of the aircraft extending parallel to a leading edge of the wing and in an unlocked, rotating condition during flight for propelling the aircraft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A propeller for an aircraft having a fuselage and a pair of fixed wings comprising:
 a mounting member secured to at least one wing; and   at least one blade rotatably connected to each mounting member and having an airfoil shape, the at least one blade having a locked condition during take-off and landing of the aircraft extending parallel to a leading edge of the wing and an unlocked, rotating condition during flight for propelling the aircraft.   
     
     
         2 . The aircraft recited in  claim 1 , wherein the propeller includes only one blade. 
     
     
         3 . The aircraft recited in  claim 2 , wherein the blade extends towards the fuselage and parallel to the wing when in the locked condition. 
     
     
         4 . The aircraft recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a pair of blades. 
     
     
         5 . The aircraft recited in  claim 4 , wherein one of the pair of blades is pivotable about a hinge between a first condition extending perpendicular to the wing and a second condition extending parallel to the wing and longitudinally aligned with the other of the pair of blades. 
     
     
         6 . The aircraft recited in  claim 1 , wherein the airfoil shape of the blade has a leading edge extending parallel to a leading edge of the wing when in the locked condition and a trailing edge. 
     
     
         7 . The aircraft recited in  claim 1 , wherein a mounting member is secured to each wing, the at least one blade on each mounting member extending towards one another and being longitudinally aligned with one another when in the locked condition. 
     
     
         8 . The aircraft recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a pair of blades, all the blades being longitudinally aligned with one another when in the locked condition. 
     
     
         9 . The aircraft recited in  claim 8 , wherein one of each pair of blades is pivotable about a hinge between a first condition extending perpendicular to the wing and a second condition extending parallel to the wing and longitudinally aligned with the other of the pair of blades. 
     
     
         10 . The aircraft recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one blade on each mounting member rotates in opposite directions from one another. 
     
     
         11 . The aircraft recited in  claim 1 , wherein each blade is locked to direct air onto the wing to provide lift to the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . An aircraft comprising:
 a fuselage extending along a centerline from a first end to a second end;   a pair of fixed wings extending outwardly from the fuselage, a cross-section of each wing defining an airfoil having a leading edge extending perpendicular to the centerline;   a tail secured to the second end of the fuselage;   a first propeller secured to the first end of the fuselage and being rotatable for propelling the aircraft; and   a pair of second propellers secured to the wings, each second propeller including a mounting member for securing the second propeller to each wing and at least one blade rotatably connected to the mounting member, each blade having a locked condition during take-off and landing of the aircraft extending parallel to the leading edge of the respective wing and an unlocked, rotating condition during flight for propelling the aircraft.   
     
     
         13 . The aircraft recited in  claim 12 , wherein each second propeller includes only one blade. 
     
     
         14 . The aircraft recited in  claim 13 , wherein each blade extends from the mounting member towards the fuselage and parallel to the wing when in the locked condition. 
     
     
         15 . The aircraft recited in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a pair of blades. 
     
     
         16 . The aircraft recited in  claim 15 , wherein one of each pair of blades is pivotable about a hinge between a first condition extending perpendicular to the wing and a second condition extending parallel to the wing and longitudinally aligned with the other of the pair of blades. 
     
     
         17 . The aircraft recited in  claim 12 , wherein the airfoil shape of each blade has a leading edge extending parallel to the leading edge of the wing when in the locked condition and a trailing edge spaced from the wing. 
     
     
         18 . The aircraft recited in  claim 12 , wherein each blade is locked to direct air onto the wing to provide lift to the aircraft. 
     
     
         19 . A propeller for an aircraft comprising:
 a mounting member securing the propeller to the aircraft; and   at least one blade rotatably connected to the mounting member and having an airfoil shape, each blade having a locked condition during take-off and landing of aircraft extending parallel to an edge of the aircraft and an unlocked, rotating condition during flight for propelling the aircraft.   
     
     
         20 . The aircraft recited in  claim 19 , wherein each blade is locked to direct air onto the edge to provide lift to the aircraft.