General Electric Company

Samuel G Cavas

Vladimir Balepin

Patrick M Drennan

Fabian Chacon

Dean P Modroukas

William Henderson

Neal Rosenblum

An aerial vehicle includes a housing, a propulsion system supported within the housing, and an inlet assembly supported by an outer surface of the housing. The inlet assembly includes: at least one fluid channel in fluid communication with the propulsion system; and a first scoop pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first scoop is aligned with the housing in the stowed position to prevent air from entering the propulsion system, and the first scoop projects from the outer surface of the housing in the deployed position to direct air through the at least one fluid channel and into the propulsion system to generate thrust. The inlet assembly includes a compression ramp integrally formed with and extending forward from the first scoop. The compression ramp includes an upstream end disposed below the upstream end of the first scoop.

Deployable inlet assembly for aerial vehicle

An aerial vehicle includes a housing, a propulsion system supported within the housing, and an inlet assembly supported by an outer surface of the housing. The inlet assembly includes: at least one fluid channel in fluid communication with the propulsion system; and a first scoop coupled to the housing and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first scoop is aligned with the housing in the stowed position to prevent air from entering the propulsion system, and the first scoop projects from the outer surface of the housing in the deployed position to direct air through the at least one fluid channel and into the propulsion system to generate thrust. The inlet assembly includes a flap disposed upstream of the first scoop. The flap is moveable between a flap stowed position and a flap deployed position.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Samuel G Cavas