Patent ID: 6988868
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: B63H,B64C,F04D

Abstract:
1. A propulsion linearizing mechanism for linearizing a fluid flow, the mechanism comprising: a generally cylindrical outer baffle arranged to direct flow of fluid therethrough in a flow direction substantially parallel to a central main axis of the outer baffle from an upstream side to a downstream side of the outer baffle; and a plurality of propeller elements supported for rotation, each about a respective propeller axis, the propeller axes being parallel to one another and the main axis of the outer baffle and being spaced circumferentially about the main axis; each propeller element defining a respective sweep area as the propeller element is rotated about the respective propeller axis thereof which lies perpendicular to the respective propeller axis; the propeller elements being located such that the outer baffle circumscribes an outer periphery of the collective sweep areas of the respective propeller elements and such that the sweep area of each propeller element is arranged to overlap the sweep area of adjacent propeller elements; the propeller elements being supported for rotation in the same direction whereby forces of curvature flow of adjacent propeller elements substantially cancel one another to linearize fluid flow in the flow direction.