Patent ID: 6231004
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
A lift-generating member comprising a wing defining a front end and a trailing edge, opposed first and second wing surfaces which converge towards said trailing edge, and a spanwise extending tangential-flow rotor having vanes and positioned adjacent the front end and said first wing surface to define an air intake region and an air discharge region along the circumferential path of the rotor vanes; wherein the rotor rotates in a direction which carries the rotor vanes in the part of their path which is adjacent said first wing surface in a direction which extends towards the trailing edge of the wing; characterised in that the rotor projects radially proud of the said first wing surface over at least said air discharge region; and in that the rotor is exposed to air at the front end of the wing to define a leading end of the lift-generating member and to take in air at the front end of said wing and to discharge it over said first wing surface as a result of rotation of the rotor.