GB901873A - Improvements relating to aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

901,873. Vertical take-off aircraft. ROLLSROYCE Ltd. Jan. 7, 1960 [Jan. 8, 1959], No. 812/59. Class 4. An aircraft has a plurality of vertical lift engines 11, and deflecting means which include guide vanes which, when the deflecting means has been moved to its operative position, are spaced from one another stepwise longitudinally of the aircraft, each guide vane projecting beyond and in partially overlapping relationship relative to the preceding guide vane when considered in a direction rearwardly of the aircraft, the deflecting means being adapted, when in its operative position, to deflect air into each engine at least when the aircraft is moving forwardly. The aircraft comprises an engine bay 12, in which are mounted a plurality of engines 11, a grid 15 movably mounted within the bay 12 and provided with a plurality of deflector vanes 16, jacks 24 for moving the forward end of the grid 15 to a first open position, Fig. 4, in which, during forward flight of the aircraft, air is deflected by the deflector vanes 16 into the intakes of each of the vertical lift engines 11, and jacks 25 for moving the rear end of the grid to an open position, Fig. 2, in which, during vertical flight, unimpeded flow of air to the engines is ensured, all jacks 24, 25 being retracted during normal forward flight of the aircraft to bring a closure panel 19 into the plane of the aircraft's upper surface. The panel 19, which, when open, acts as an air scoop, is connected fore and aft by links 20, 21 to the rods 22, 23 of the air-operated jacks 24, 25. In order to start the engines 11 during forward flight, the scoop member 19 and the grid 15 are raised by the rods 22 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Ambient air will be trapped within the scoop member 19 and will be directed by the arcuate vanes 16 and the honeycomb grid 26 into the intakes of engines 11 to permit their lifting. When engines 11 have been lit, rods 23 are gradually raised until the position shown in Fig. 2 is reached to ensure maximum air intake. The exhaust gases from the engines 11 are directed downwardly through doors, not shown. In an alternative arrangement, Figs. 6 and 6b (not shown), substantially triangular section vanes are pivotally mounted in longitudinal walls of the engine bay, each vane projecting vertically above the vanes forward of it. In yet another arrangement, Figs. 7 and 7b (not shown), two retractable flaps, mounted at the forward end of the engine bays, impart vertical movement to the air flowing past them, the air then flowing over pivotally mounted vanes, which lie wholly within the bay, each vane being longer than any of the vanes forward of it. Specification 901,874 is referred to.