A multimodal propulsion system of a remotely operated, semi-autonomous, autonomous operated aerial vehicle of a fire-resistant aerial vehicle for suppressing widespread fires deploying hybrid convergent-divergent nozzle systems, electric fans, compressed air subsystems, individually or in combination, primarily powered by ambient air from the fire environment, providing thrust, lift, thrust and lift.

An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This assembly includes a bladed rotor and a thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle. The bladed rotor is rotatable about an axis. The thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle is configured to direct gas propelled by the bladed rotor out of the aircraft propulsion system along a first direction during a first mode and along a second direction during a second mode. The first direction is parallel with the axis or angularly offset from the axis by no more than five degrees. The second direction is angularly offset from the axis by at least seventy-five degrees. The thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle has a first exit area during the first mode and a second exit area during the second mode that is greater than the first exit area.

A propulsion device includes a propulsion body and a diversion assembly. The propulsion body includes a propulsion system and a housing accommodating the propulsion system. The housing has an air-intake opening and an air-discharge opening respectively on two opposite sides of the propulsion system. The diversion assembly includes first and second diversion annular sheets. The first diversion annular sheet is disposed outside the air-discharge opening of the housing and having a surrounding center. The first diversion annular sheet is swung relative to the air discharge opening by a first axis passing through the surrounding center. The second diversion annular sheet is disposed outside the air-discharge opening of the housing and concentrically disposed with the first diversion annular sheet. The second diversion annular sheet is swung relative to the air-discharge opening by a second axis passing through the surrounding center, and first axis intersects the second axis.

A hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion system may comprise: a first propulsion system, a second propulsion system, and a third propulsion system. The first propulsion system may comprise a first fan, a first turbine, a first compressor, and a first electric motor, the first fan operably coupled to the first turbine and the first compressor by a first shaft, the first shaft coupled to the first electric motor, the first shaft configured to be disposed radially inward of a fuselage of an aircraft. The second propulsion system and the third propulsion system may be in accordance with the first propulsion system. The hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion system may be symmetric about a vertical plane extending through a neutral aerodynamic axis.

The present invention comprises a novel autorotation safety device consisting of at least one compressed air tank that is configured to release high velocity air, either autonomously or through the actions of a pilot, into a thrust producing flywheel/rotor when the primary drive source for the rotors/fans have failed, creating a secondary drive system for safety. In preferred embodiments, when the primary drive system fails, and the air vehicle starts to descend, the invention will automatically inject high pressure air into the propulsion system's blades to create the thrust necessary to soften an emergency landing.

A hybrid propulsion engine for a rotorcraft includes a core turboshaft engine having a gas path and an output shaft that provides torque to a main rotor. A fan module is disposed relative to the core turboshaft engine and is coupled to the output shaft. The fan module has a bypass air path that is independent of the gas path. A thrust nozzle is configured to mix exhaust gases from the core turboshaft engine with bypass air from the fan module and to discharge the mixture to provide propulsive thrust. In a turboshaft configuration, the fan module is closed to prevent the flow of bypass air therethrough such that the thrust nozzle does not provide propulsive thrust. In a turboshaft and turbofan configuration, the fan module is open allowing the flow of bypass air therethrough such that the thrust nozzle provides propulsive thrust, thereby supplying propulsion compounding for the rotorcraft.

A hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion system may comprise: a first propulsion system, a second propulsion system, and a third propulsion system. The first propulsion system may comprise a first fan, a first turbine, a first compressor, and a first electric motor, the first fan operably coupled to the first turbine and the first compressor by a first shaft, the first shaft coupled to the first electric motor, the first shaft configured to be disposed radially inward of a fuselage of an aircraft. The second propulsion system and the third propulsion system may be in accordance with the first propulsion system. The hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion system may be symmetric about a vertical plane extending through a neutral aerodynamic axis.

Exhaust redirecting devices are described that are suitable for use in tilt rotor aircraft. Such devices are constructed of light weight material and permit redirection of exhaust gases from turbojet engines of tilt rotor aircraft as nacelles of the aircraft transition between vertical and horizontal flight. Use of a controller permits coordination between exhaust redirection and nacelle position.

An annular exhaust nozzle is disclosed designed to accept and redirect jet engine exhaust thereby generating direct reactive thrust as well as thrust via induction.

A combustion engine (10) comprises a radial compressor (16) in flow communication via a flow passage (22) with a compressor-combustor array (20) radially outward of the radial compressor (16), both rotatable around a central axis (12). The compressor-combustor (20) comprises an array of rotor blades (26). The walls of the blades (26) define a plurality of chambers (28, 30). Each chamber (28, 30) has a flow inlet (32) to receive fluid from the radial compressor (16), and a flow outlet to exhaust fluid radially outwards from the compressor-combustor (20). The plurality of chambers (28, 30) comprises a first pilot combustion chamber (28a) and a second pilot combustion chamber (28b). The first pilot combustion chamber (28a) is provided with a first fuel injector (40a), and the second pilot combustion chamber (28b) is provided with a second fuel injector (40a). The first fuel injector (40a) is in flow communication with a first fuel reservoir (70a), and the second fuel injector (40b) is in flow communication with a second fuel reservoir (70b). The first fuel reservoir (70a) and the second fuel reservoir (70b) are each in fluid communication with a flow regulator (100), the flow regulator (100, 200, 300) operable to vary fuel flow delivery rate to the first reservoir (70a) and vary fuel flow delivery rate to the second reservoir (70b). The differential regulation of fuel flow between pilot combustion chambers results in different levels of thrust being generated downstream of the combustion chambers. In this way the engine is operable to produce vectored thrust.