US 12,071,224 B2
Aircraft boundary layer ingestion using multiple fans and associated methods
Sho Sato, Mercer Island, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/538,849.
Prior Publication US 2023/0166832 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 21/01 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 21/01 (2023.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage, comprising an exterior surface and a rearward-most end;
a plurality of control surfaces fixed to the exterior surface of the fuselage at first rearward-most axial locations and extending from the exterior surface of the fuselage at the first rearward-most axial locations; and
a plurality of fans, fixed directly to the exterior surface of the fuselage at second axial locations forward of the rearward-most end of the fuselage and rearward of the first rearward-most axial locations and positioned about the exterior surface of the fuselage at the second axial locations, each one of the plurality of fans comprising:
a plurality of fan blades; and
a fan drive, configured to rotate the plurality of fan blades, wherein the plurality of fan blades are positioned at lateral locations relative to the exterior surface of the fuselage such that when rotated by the fan drive the plurality of fans receive and accelerate boundary layer air flow, along the exterior surface of the fuselage, from a first average velocity to a second average velocity, greater than the first average velocity, when the aircraft is in flight.