Sundstrand Corporation

Patrick D Curran

Richard W Reynolds

Belinda F Roettger

William B Kroll

An aircraft (10) including a stowable, wingtip mounted, vortex turbine (30) for dissipating or extracting energy from a lift induced vortex (28) emanating from the aircraft (10) is provided. The vortex turbine (30) includes a first and a second array (38, (40) of blades (32a,b) (34a,b) extending respectively from a first and a second hub section (32), (34). Hub sections (32), (34) may be independently pivoted about a common axis of rotation (36) to a stowed position for landing, take-off, or ground operation, whereat none of the blades (32a,b) (34a,b) extend below a minimum ground clearance of the aircraft, or beyond a maximum horizontal extension of the wing (16). In flight, the hub sections (32), (34) may be deployed and the pitch of the blades adjusted to maximize dissipation of the lift induced vortex (28), thereby minimizing drag and providing improved safety for other aircraft flying through the wake of the aircraft (10) producing the vortex (28). The hub sections (32, 34) may also be locked together to form a turbine wheel (46) having a circumferentially symmetrical array of blades. The turbine wheel (46) is rotatable about the axis of rotation (36) for extracting usable energy from the lift induced vortex (28) and/or free stream air passing through the turbine wheel (46).

Deployable vortex turbine for dissipating or extracting energy from a

A system and method of separating the gaseous components of air to provide an oxygen-enriched gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched gas stream are disclosed. The on-board gas generation system and method generate an oxygen-enriched stream including substantially pure oxygen, such as about 99% or greater oxygen, and, if desired, having a pressure of up to about 10,000 pounds per square inch, thereby eliminating the need for a separate compressor to compress the oxygen-enriched gas stream. The on-board oxygen generation system and method are used in enclosed vehicles, like aircraft and military tanks, to supply substantially pure oxygen for breathing, especially at high altitudes and in contaminated atmospheres. The system includes an oxygen separator, such as a ceramic-type oxygen separator, to derive compressed or uncompressed, substantially pure oxygen from feed air provided to the oxygen separator, without the use of a compressor; and means coupled between the oxygen separator and an enclosed space on the enclosed vehicle, such as the cockpit or the cabin, for delivering the oxygen to the enclosed space, whereby such oxygen is used for breathing by the crew or the passengers in the enclosed space.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Patrick D Curran