VTOL AIRCRAFT WITH LEADING EDGE TILTING DUCTED FANS
An exemplary ducted fan includes a circular duct surrounding a rotor hub from which blades radially extend, a stator having a stator leading edge and a stator trailing edge, and a stator chord line extending from the stator leading edge to the stator trailing edge, the stator chord line substantially equal to a duct radius from the rotor hub to an outer surface of the duct.
1 . A ducted fan comprising:
a circular duct surrounding a rotor hub from which blades radially extend;
a stator having a stator leading edge and a stator trailing edge; and
a stator chord line extending from the stator leading edge to the stator trailing edge, the stator chord line substantially equal to a duct radius from the rotor hub to an outer surface of the duct.
2 . The ducted fan of claim 1 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct and the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct.
3 . The ducted fan of claim 1 , wherein the stator is an articulating vane.
4 . The ducted fan of claim 1 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct and extends along a diameter of the duct;
the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct; and
the trailing edge has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the duct radius.
5 . The ducted fan of claim 4 , wherein the stator is an articulating vane.
6 . The ducted fan of claim 1 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct;
the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct;
the stator has a width exterior of the duct that is substantially equal to an outside diameter of the duct; and
the trailing edge has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the duct radius.
7 . The ducted fan of claim 6 , wherein the stator is an articulating vane.
8 . The ducted fan of claim 1 , wherein the stator has a height that tapers down from the stator leading edge toward the stator trailing edge.
9 . The ducted fan of claim 8 , wherein the stator is an articulating vane.
10 . The ducted fan of claim 1 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct and extends along a diameter of the duct;
the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct;
the trailing edge has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the duct radius; and
the stator has a height that tapers down from the stator leading edge toward the stator trailing edge.
11 . The ducted fan of claim 10 , wherein the stator is an articulating vane.
12 . The ducted fan of claim 10 , wherein the stator has a width exterior of the duct that is substantially equal to an outside diameter of the duct.
13 . The ducted fan of claim 12 , wherein the stator is an articulating vane.
14 . An aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode, the aircraft comprising:
a left wing extending laterally from a fuselage to a left wing tip;
a left ducted fan rotatably coupled at a leading edge of the left wing between the fuselage and the left wing tip, the left ducted fan rotatable from a vertical lift;
a right wing extending laterally from the fuselage to a right wing tip; and
a right ducted fan rotatably coupled at a leading edge of the right wing between the fuselage and the right wing tip;
wherein the left and the right ducted fan are rotatable between a vertical lift orientation with a portion of the ducted fan positioned in and opening in the corresponding left and right wing between the wing leading edge and a wing trailing edge and a forward thrust orientation.
15 . The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the left and the right ducted fans each comprise a circular duct surrounding a rotor hub from which blades radially extend;
a stator having a stator leading edge and a stator trailing edge; and
a stator chord line extending from the stator leading edge to the stator trailing edge, the stator chord line substantially equal to a duct radius from the rotor hub to an outer surface of the duct;
wherein the stator is positioned in the opening when the left and the right ducted fans are in the forward thrust orientation.
16 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct and extends along a diameter of the duct;
the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct; and
the trailing edge has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the duct radius.
17 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct;
the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct;
the stator has a width exterior of the duct that is substantially equal to an outside diameter of the duct; and
the trailing edge has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the duct radius.
18 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the stator has a height that tapers down from the stator leading edge toward the stator trailing edge.
19 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the stator leading edge is located inside of the duct and extends along a diameter of the duct;
the trailing edge is located exterior of the duct;
the trailing edge has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the duct radius; and
the stator has a height that tapers down from the stator leading edge toward the stator trailing edge.
20 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the wing trailing edge has parabolic cutouts positioned behind the left and the right ducted fan.