One embodiment is a rotor system comprising a duct ring; a hub disposed centrally to the duct ring; first and second stators each connected between the duct ring and the hub; first and second control vanes rotatably connected to the first and second stators, respectively; a structural hoop having a first end connected to the first control vane and a second end connected to the second control vane, the structural hoop for translating rotation of the first control vane about a vane axis to the second control vane; and a mechanism for restricting at least one of forward-aft movement and side-to-side movement of the structural hoop relative to the duct ring.

The ideal design for a redundant orbitally driven electric ducted fan that can replace a family of current propeller and motor combinations in electric ducted fan designs by meeting air flow and pressure requirements while drawing less electric current to rotate and thus produce the required flow not only would reduce cost of operation over the life of the fan but opens new possibilities for electric powered vertical takeoff and landing vehicles with redundant drives improving safety of operation. The entry of flying machines using propellers and lifting fans such as hover bikes and quadcopters, manned or unmanned is driving a need to re-examine the application of force applied to rotate these fans to achieve a reduction in aircraft weight and increase flying time for a given battery charge or load of fuel.

A counter-rotating fan, comprising two impellers and a motor. The motor is used for driving the two impellers to rotate. The two impellers are axially spaced apart from each other, and are divided into a first-stage impeller and a second-stage impeller. When the counter-rotating fan operates, airflow is blown to the direction of the second-stage impeller by means of the first-stage impeller. At least one impeller has turns of blades arranged in the radial direction of the impeller. Blades of each turn are spaced apart from each other around a hub of the impeller, and a spacer ring is connected between two adjacent turns of blades. The counter-rotating fan is stable in rotation and good in cooling effect, it is not easy to deform, and the wind is strong in the center.

A system for cooling an engine is provided. The system uses a rim driven fan having an electric motor in a frame of the fan to move air through a radiator toward the outside of the vehicle. The electric motor may have the rotor and the stator axially or radially aligned. The plurality of fan blades extends radially inward of a support which is formed integral with or attached to the rotor. Rim driven fans are also provided.

An electric motor assembly includes an electric motor, a fan assembly coupled to the electric motor and configured to rotate therewith about an axis. The fan assembly includes a hub including a cylindrical portion having an inlet end and an outlet end, the hub further including an inlet surface coupled to the inlet end. The fan assembly also includes a plurality of blades coupled to an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, wherein the inlet surface is tapered to direct an inlet airflow toward the plurality of blades.

A motor-integrated fan having an intake port and a blow-out port comprises a rotary part 12 that is rotatably supported by a shaft, and a motor 14 that rotates the rotary part 12. The motor 14 is an outer periphery drive motor that rotates the rotary part 12 by supplying motive power from a duct provided on the outer peripheral side of the shaft. The motor 14 includes: a permanent magnet 45 provided on a rotary support ring 33 connected to the outer peripheral side of blades 32 of the rotary part 12; and a coil 46 provided opposite the permanent magnet 45 in the axial direction of the axis of rotation. Among the plurality of blades 32, a first blade 32a and a second blade 32b are located at different positions in the axial direction.

Systems and methods are provided for mitigating recirculation of backflow fluid through a fan. The fan includes a housing having a channel that extends from an inlet to an outlet of the housing. A rotor assembly is positioned within the channel and is configured to direct a fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. The rotor assembly includes a hub, a plurality of fan blades, and a shroud disposed about a circumference of the fan blades, where a radial gap extends between the shroud and the housing. The radial gap is configured to receive a portion of the fluid flow from the outlet as backflow fluid. The rotor assembly also includes an inlet flange that is configured receive the backflow fluid from the radial gap and to direct the backflow fluid in a direction away from the inlet prior to discharge of the backflow fluid from the radial gap.

In an embodiment, a ducted fan assembly includes a housing that further includes a rotor. The ducted fan assembly also includes a rim that defines an opening surrounding at least a portion of the housing. The ducted fan assembly also includes a movable leading edge that is attached to the rim and extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the ducted fan assembly, where the movable leading edge is adjustable between at least a first position and a second position.

A convertible ducted fan engine having a shroud, a drive shaft connected to a mechanical fan, and a rotational drive motor configured to rotate the mechanical fan. An embodiment includes a linear drive motor configured to translate the drive shaft and mechanical fan in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shroud. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud rotates about the rotational axis.

The invention concerns an impeller (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f) of a motor vehicle fan comprising: a cylindrical ring (2) having a center (P), blades (3) extending from the cylindrical ring (2) and toward the center (P), each blade (3) having two radially opposite ends (4, 5), referred to as the blade root end (4) and the blade tip end (5), the blade root end (4) being directed toward the center (P) and the blade tip end (5) being secured to the cylindrical ring (2), characterized in that all the blade root ends (4) are free or linked together by a central hub (20) of reduced diameter.