A propulsion device includes: a duct in which a flow path extending in a direction of an axis; a fan which is provided with a) an outer peripheral ring formed in an annular shape surrounding the axis and installed to be relatively rotatable around the axis with respect to the duct, b) a plurality of fan blades arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction such that each blade is extended from the outer peripheral ring toward the inside of the flow path, and c) an inner peripheral ring formed in an annular shape being connected radially inner end portions of the plurality of fan blades and in which an air flow passage is formed so that air flows therethrough in the direction of the axis; and a motor which drives the fan to rotate around the axis.

A ducted fan includes a fan and a cowl having a cylindrical shape and including an introduction port configured to introduce air from a first end portion side. The fan includes a compressor blade provided on an outer circumferential side and a thrust blade provided on an inner circumferential side of the compressor blade. The cowl includes a housing portion configured to accommodate the compressor blade in an interior thereof, an outlet configured to allow air flowing through the housing portion to be blown therethrough by the compressor blade, and an inlet configured to suck air blown out. The outlet is provided inwards in a radial direction of the cowl and near the introduction port of the cowl, and the inlet is provided inwards in the radial direction of the cowl and between the outlet and the compressor blade in an axial line direction.

A fan aspirator, and related systems and methods, utilizes a plurality of motors to drive a fan of an aspirator to deliver inflation fluid to an inflatable device. The fan aspirator includes a plurality of motors and a respective plurality of drive gears configured to drive a pinion gear to which the fan is mounted within a central chamber of the housing of fan aspirator.

A fan blade assembly using air bearing features to reduce frictional losses, reduce physical wear and tear, and allow for faster acceleration of the fan blade within the assembly is disclosed. A fan blade housing incorporates inlets for pressurized air which create a pressurized area between the fan blade and the housing. The pressurized area functions as an air bearing interface and the fan blade is kept at a controlled distance from the fan blade housing as it spins. In an alternate embodiment, the fan blade assembly has pass-through inlets which use air pressure generated by the fan itself as it spins to provide the pressurized air for the pressurized area.

An actuator assembly includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a moving piece that is disposed between the first actuator and the second actuator. The moving piece is positionable to close a gap in the compressor.

An electric propulsion system for an aircraft includes a nacelle and an electric machine. The electric machine includes a stator positioned in the nacelle, and a rotor and fan assembly positioned in a primary flow path through the nacelle. The rotor and fan assembly includes a cylindrical fan shroud, a plurality of rotor magnets positioned on an outer surface of the fan shroud, and a fan hub mounted on a central support shaft via one or more bearings. A plurality of fan blades extend between an inner surface of the fan shroud and an outer surface of the fan hub. The rotor magnets may be loaded in compression in a radial direction when the rotor and fan assembly is at rest. The fan blades may be pre-stressed in a radial direction when the rotor and fan assembly is at rest.

A shaftless rotary machine includes an impeller, a motor positioned radially outward from the impeller, and a housing. The impeller includes a hub, blades connected to the hub, and a shroud connected to the blades. The motor includes a rotor connected to the shroud and a stator. The housing includes an inlet, an outlet, and a duct. The duct extends from the inlet to the outlet. The duct partially surrounds the motor and the impeller.

A fan structure having integrated rotor impeller, and methods of producing the same are provided. The fan structure includes a fan housing that encircles a longitudinal axis, and defines an airflow direction from an inlet side to an exit side. The integrated rotor impeller structure is disposed to rotate within the fan housing. The integrated rotor impeller structure includes (a) a cylindrical rotor shell being annular about the longitudinal axis, and having a shell length, and (b) an axis rod coaxial with the longitudinal axis, and having an axis rod length of less than or equal to the shell length. An airflow annulus is created therebetween. A blade is disposed within the airflow annulus to extend radially from the external surface of the axis rod to the inside surface of the the cylindrical rotor shell. One or more magnets are integrated within the integrated rotor impeller structure.

An air-heating blower device for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a body with at least one inlet opening at least one outlet opening an electrically driven axial fan rotatably mounted around its axis within the body. The fan is associated to an electric motor (M) with toroidal geometry, having an annular rotor which is rotatable within an annular stator and defining a central opening inside thereof, said fan (F) having one or more blades (B) which are carried by the rotor and each blade extending into said central opening towards a free end of the blade which terminates at a distance from the central axis of the fan, and in that the annular body of the rotor and/or the annular body of the stator define a guide tube for the airflow activated by the fan (F) over the resistive electric heater (H).

An axial fan includes a rotatable fan blade assembly including a plurality of fan blades, and a plurality of permanent magnets affixed to the plurality of fan blades. A stationary guide channel is located radially outboard of the fan blade assembly. A plurality of field coils are located at the guide channel and are configured to drive rotation of the fan blade assembly via magnetic interaction with the plurality of permanent magnets when the plurality of field coils are sequentially energized. A method of operating an axial fan includes energizing a plurality of field coils, urging a fan blade assembly out of contact with the guide channel via magnetic interaction between the plurality of field coils and a plurality of permanent magnets located at the fan blade assembly, and sequentially pulsing the plurality of field coils thereby urging rotation of the fan blade assembly about an axis of rotation.