Patent ID: 7481290

Claim:
An apparatus for producing vertical lift in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a first trans-flow fan positioned on a first side of a fuselage of the vehicle, said first trans-flow fan having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said fuselage; a second trans-flow fan positioned on a second side of said fuselage, said second side opposite said first side, said second trans-flow fan having a direction of rotation opposite that of said first trans-flow fan, said second trans-flow fan having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said fuselage; a first vane assembly positioned adjacent a discharge outlet of said first trans-flow fan, said first vane assembly including a plurality of vertical vanes configured to selectively direct air from said first trans-flow fan between a forward direction and a rearward direction, said first vane assembly including a plurality of horizontal vanes configured to direct air from said first trans-flow fan in a selected downward direction; a second vane assembly positioned adjacent a discharge outlet of said second trans-flow fan, said second vane assembly including a plurality of vertical vanes configured to selectively direct air from said second trans-flow fan between a forward direction and a rearward direction, said second vane assembly including a plurality of horizontal vanes configured to direct air from said second trans-flow fan in a selected downward direction; and a skirt enclosing a lower portion of the vehicle, said skirt configured to be in communication with said discharge outlet of at least one of said first trans-flow fan or said second trans-flow fan; wherein a flow of air into said skirt creates a cushion of air that provides vertical lift to the vehicle.