Patent ID: 7891603
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: B64B

Abstract:
1. A propulsion system for the controlled flight of buoyant and semi-buoyant aircraft comprising: a plurality of fans arranged such that each fan is positioned to ingest air moving at slower than the free stream velocity, such as near the bow and stern on an airship with a predominately symmetrical body of revolution hull shape; orientations such that each of the fan's thrust is directed along a line tangent to an arc drawn from bow to stern whereby the air stream produced by fans at the bow when in the forward thrust setting travels in a divergent path outwardly around the hull, and the air stream produced by fans at the stern when in the forward thrust setting travels in a convergent path inwardly toward the tapered end of the hull; a system of classification of sets of fans used to affect specific rotational and translational maneuvers; a weighting system assigned to govern the relative power of each fan in a set used to affect maneuver based upon each fan's direction and maximum power of thrust, as well as its position relative to the vehicle's centers of mass, buoyancy, and dynamic lift; and a control system translating the pilot's actions into the appropriate selection of fan set and engagement of fans at the proper level to affect desired maneuver.