Aerodynamic lift enhancing system for a flying automotive vehicle

Abstract

An aerodynamic lift enhancing system for increasing aerodynamic lift generated by a body of an automotive flying vehicle is disclosed. The automotive flying vehicle includes a vehicle body enclosing a passenger compartment and having an upper surface at least partially defined by a hood, a roof extending over the passenger compartment, and a front windshield disposed between the hood and roof. The front windshield includes a leading edge positioned proximate a trailing edge of the hood and a trailing edge positioned adjacent the roof. The automotive flying vehicle includes wings extending laterally outward from the vehicle body. The aerodynamic lift enhancing system includes an air discharge nozzle located upstream from the leading edge of the front windshield, the air discharge nozzle operable to discharge a stream of air over the upper surface of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for enhancing aerodynamic lift of an automotive vehicle body, the apparatus comprising:
 a vehicle body enclosing a passenger compartment and including an upper surface at least partially defined by a hood, a roof extending over the passenger compartment, and a front windshield disposed between the hood and roof, the front windshield including a leading edge positioned proximate a trailing edge of the hood and a trailing edge positioned adjacent the roof;   a wing extending laterally outward from the vehicle body; and   an air discharge nozzle located upstream of the leading edge of the front windshield, the air discharge nozzle operable to discharge a stream of air over the upper surface of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an air scoop located along the upper surface of the vehicle body and downstream of the trailing edge of the front windshield. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one passage fluidly connecting the air scoop to the air discharge passage. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a pump having an inlet fluidly connected to the air scoop and an outlet fluidly connected to the air discharge nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pump includes a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the air discharge nozzle is fluidly connected to a compressor of the gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the air discharge nozzle is fluidly connected to an exhaust of the gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the gas turbine engine is configured to power a generator. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a valve operable for controlling a flow of air from the air scoop to the air discharge nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the air scoop includes an opening for capturing a stream of air passing over the upper surface of the vehicle from a front of the vehicle to rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the opening in the air scoop is oriented substantially toward a front of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the scoop is located proximate a rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air discharge passage includes a sweeping jet actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of spaced sweeping jet actuators arranged proximate the leading edge of the front windshield. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air discharge passage is located proximate a front end of the vehicle body. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air discharge nozzle is located in gap between the hood and the front windshield. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for enhancing aerodynamic lift of an automotive vehicle body, the apparatus comprising:
 a vehicle body at least partially defined by a roof extending over a passenger compartment and a front windshield disposed adjacent a leading edge of the roof;   a wing extending laterally outward from the vehicle body; and   at least one sweeping jet actuator located upstream of the windshield, the sweeping jet actuator including an air discharge nozzle oriented to discharge a sweeping stream of air along an outer surface of the windshield.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a hood located adjacent to a leading edge of the front windshield, the hood at least partially defining an opening between the hood and the front windshield, the air discharge nozzle oriented to direct a jet of air through the opening an onto the outer surface of the windshield. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of spaced sweeping jet actuators arranged along a leading edge of the windshield. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising an air scoop located along the upper surface of the vehicle body and downstream of a trailing edge of the front windshield. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a pump fluidly connecting the air scoop to the at least one sweeping jet actuator.