Patent ID: 6932016
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: B63B,B63G,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A system for controlling fluid flow into an inlet of a vehicle, said system comprising: at least one vortex generator mountable to the vehicle, said vortex generator capable of generating streamwise vortices in the fluid flow and capable of adjusting a strength of the streamwise vortices and a lateral position of the streamwise vortices relative to the inlet wherein said vortex generator generates the streamwise vortices by ejecting fluid into the fluid flow at an outlet flush with a hull of the vehicle; detection means mountable to the vehicle for detecting the lateral position of the streamwise vortices and for producing an output indicative thereof; and wherein the said detection means comprises sensors mountable to the vehicle proximate to the inlet vehicle; measuring means mountable to the vehicle for measuring pressure of the fluid flow that has entered the inlet and for producing an output indicative thereof; and a controller responsive to said detection means, said measuring means and said vortex generator for controlling the operation of said vortex generator based on the outputs from said detection means and said measuring means, wherein the strength and the lateral position of the streamwise vortices are adjusted thereby controlling the fluid flow into the inlet.