Abstract: A double-ring rotary wing spherical cabin aircraft includes a spherical cabin; an upper protective cover; a lower protective cover; a rotary wing fixing ring connected between inner circles of the upper and lower protective covers, and mounted with a gyroscope and a rotatable attitude-adjusting ring; an upper rotary wing rotor and a lower rotary wing rotor rotationally mounted on the rotary wing fixing ring; and a control system. The spherical cabin is rotationally mounted in the attitude-adjusting ring. Two attitude-adjusting articulated shafts opposite to each other are connected between the attitude-adjusting ring and the rotary wing fixing ring. Two cabin articulated shafts opposite to each other are connected between the spherical cabin and the attitude-adjusting ring. The attitude-adjusting articulated shaft and the cabin articulated shaft are in transmission connection with an attitude-adjusting motor. The attitude-adjusting motor and the gyroscope are electrically connected to the control system.

Abstract: A fan includes a central hub defining an inlet, a motor positioned within the central hub, and an impeller positioned within the central hub. The impeller is operable to be rotated by the motor to generate air movement. The fan also includes a nozzle defining a channel that receives the airflow from the central hub. The nozzle also defines an outlet in communication with the channel to direct air out of the nozzle. The fan further includes a plurality of conduits connecting the nozzle to the central hub to direct air from the central hub to the channel and through the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle defines a projection aligned with each conduit to divide air movement through the nozzle.

Abstract: A VTOL aircraft having thrust and directional control comprises a fan for providing a centrifugal flow of air. At least one duct allows for and directs air flow. At least one nozzle allows for exhaust release. Each of the at least one nozzle has a first end attached to one of each of the at least one duct. Each of the at least one nozzle has a turn measuring 90° and faces downward from the second end of each of the at least one duct. Each of the at least one nozzle has a second end at which is a vane for redirecting airflow. The VTOL aircraft also has an attachment for landing.

Abstract: A rotary aircraft includes a cylindrical enclosure configured to form an open housing with a top opening and a bottom opening; a hover disc disposed within the open housing of the cylindrical enclosure and configured to direct airflow entering through the top opening, the hover disc forming a center opening; and a fan extending through the center opening of the hover disc and configured to direct airflow through the hover disc.

Abstract: The herein invention is presenting a lift generating method based on a semi-open fluid jet flowing in a closed circuit around a lifting airfoil. A VTOL aircraft with maximized payload room and car-like shape is the preferred embodiment of the invention. The herein aircraft uses no wings, exposed propellers, hot gas jets or other high injury risk means for propulsion and lift, and it can be driven by ordinary skilled people. Furthermore the aircraft has a small footprint and can land, take off and even cruise on water in one of the preferred embodiments.

Abstract: A ground effect transport system comprising a plenum roof platform for location beneath a load carrying means, a skirt depending from the platform to form a plenum chamber with the platform, fan means on or in the platform for supplying air to the plenum chamber, wherein the skirt extends downwardly towards the ground surface and has a ground engaging support member for supporting the bottom of the skirt above the ground surface and a separate detachable sealing member for providing a seal between the bottom of the skirt and the ground surface.

Abstract: A ground effect transport system comprising a plenum roof platform for location beneath a load carrying means, a skirt depending from the platform to form a plenum chamber with the platform, fan means on or in the platform for supplying air to the plenum chamber, wherein the skirt extends downwardly towards the ground surface and has a ground engaging support member for supporting the bottom of the skirt above the ground surface and a separate detachable sealing member for providing a seal between the bottom of the skirt and the ground surface.

Abstract: A multiple unit surface effect vehicle movable through an aquatic environment is provided including connected units and lift fans. The multiple unit surface effect vehicle may further include a coupling system and/or a plurality of skirt portions connecting one of the connected units with another of the connected units. The multiple unit surface effect vehicle includes the connected units connected to form a continuous movable unit movable in an aquatic environment. Each connected unit includes a forced air containment chamber defined within each of the connected units. The forced air containment chambers of each of the connected units are connected to form a continuous pressurized air cushion. The lift fans force air into the forced air containment chamber to pressurize the continuous pressurized air cushion.

Abstract: The present invention is an air cushion vehicle and a control mechanism for steering and turning the vehicle. The air cushion vehicle includes a frame having a skirt body extending around the perimeter. An air flow generator may be positioned on the frame for providing a lift flow and thrust flow. At least one vane is disposed on the frame to direct the thrust flow. At least one fin is disposed on the frame downstream of the vane for directing the thrust flow. A turning controller may be used for moving the vane and fin in a coordinating movement to affect the direction or the motion of the air cushion vehicle.

Abstract: A hovercraft is capable of operation on either a solid surface or a liquid surface. The hovercraft includes a hull on which is mounted at least one thrust-lift fan assembly for providing an air cushion under the hovercraft and for propelling the hovercraft in a forward or reverse direction. The hovercraft also includes a steering fan assembly mounted transversely to the thrust-lift fan assembly and that allows the hovercraft to be steered in any lateral direction. The hovercraft is controlled by operation of the fans in the appropriate direction, and may be in the form of a wireless remote control toy.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a floor nozzle unit, and a float plate or float unit. The main body has a motor fan for generating a suction force and a dust-collection chamber for collecting dust. The motor fan provides the suction force to the dust collection chamber. The floor nozzle unit is disposed under the main body. The floor nozzle unit has an inlet port connected to the dust-collection chamber for attracting dust on a floor into the dust-collection chamber by the suction force of said motor fan. The float plate or float unit is disposed on a lower face of the floor nozzle unit. The float plate or float unit includes a floor opposing face where an outlet port is formed for spouting discharge air to the floor from the motor fan. The float face is located around the outlet port to receive a lifting force produced by pressure of the discharge air between the float face and the floor to be cleaned.

Abstract: A craft for ground effect and aerodynamic flight has, in addition to the usual vertical and horizontal stabilizer(s), a primary, upper airfoil, a lower secondary airfoil and a pivotable flap. The upper surface of the primary airfoil forms the primary lifting surface for aerodynamic flight while the lower surface forms, at its anterior and, an air intake for the compressors powering the craft and, to the rear, the upper surface of a plenum for ground effect flight. The upper surface of the secondary airfoil forms the lower surface of the compressor air intake at its anterior end and a compressed air exhaust at its other end. The lower surface forms the anterior end of the plenum when the pivotable flap is in the down position. The pivotable flap is attached near the forward end of the lower surface of the secondary airfoil to block the flow of compressed gases out the front of the craft during landing and while in hovercraft mode. Preferred models have a vertical stabilizer forward of the cockpit.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner has a floating function for lifting the upright vacuum cleaner in a cleaning operation by spouting discharge air flow to a floor to be cleaned, and at least a suction-air inlet port for sucking air with dusts is arranged at an outer portion of a bottom face of a floor nozzle unit of the upright vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: The air cushion chambers of an air cushion vehicle are horizontally delimited by a skirt. The skirt comprises brushes with elongated downwards extended filaments (9), which have downwards diminishing cross-sectional area thereby providing the brushes with sufficient stiffness to maintain the pressure in the air cushion chamber and such a large flexibility in the lower section of the skirt that ice can hardly deposit thereon. The filament members are mounted in a guide profile (2) in such a manner that above the members there is a chamber (12) for dispersion and conveying of deicing fluid which form the chamber (12) via a flow passage in every filament member may pass down into a clearspace (10) between the filaments (9). At least one of the filaments (109) has forward protruding web (115) on one of its sides and a backwards protruding web (116) on its other side.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom and an inner wall, an impeller for pressurizing air within the housing to float the housing above a support surface, and a novel vacuum module/agitator located below the impeller. The vacuum module/agitator is rotatable with the impeller for agitating dust and debris on the support surface and for simultaneously suctioning the dust and debris upwards for lateral displacement against the inner wall. The dust and debris is then centrifuged to a duct communicating with the inner wall. The air-floated vacuum cleaner further includes a flotation plate module for entrapping and sealing within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller.

Abstract: An improved bow and/or stern seal is provided for a surface effect vehicle herein the vehicle has a pair of spaced apart side hulls which are joined by a wet deck, and the bow and stern seals extend between the side hulls so that an air cushion can be formed between the side walls and the bow and stern seals. The improved seal includes a portion of the deck having an opening for providing an air inlet to the air cushion. An elongated pneumatic bag is mounted along its length to the bottom of the wet deck, is sealed at its ends and is positioned to receive air from the deck opening along its forward side. Provision is made for a passageway between the side hulls for directing air around the forward side of the bag.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying and transporting loads over a surface comprises: a supporting platform; a flexible damping ring fixed to the supporting platform along a circular closed-loop line of contact and defining a chamber adapted for inflation upon introduction of a pressurized medium; an uplift chamber defined between the supporting platform, the surface and an interior wall portion of the damping ring, the interior wall portion of the damping ring forming a lateral partition between the chambers during operation and the damping ring having at least one aperture enabling fluid communication between the chambers; and, the interior wall portion of the damping ring being stretchable and the remaining wall portions of the damping ring being substantially unstretchable, whereby introduction of the pressurized medium will effect inflation of the damping ring and pressurization of the uplift chamber, the pressurized medium escaping from the uplift chamber as a fluid film of substantially uniform thickness and pres

Abstract: An air-cushioned vehicle wherein the air pressure differential between the plenum chamber and the atmosphere is used to charge a jet engine; thus allowing the use of pulse-jet or ram-jet power plants which require precharging and improving the performance of other engines.The system is implemented by either ducting the pressurized air from the plenum chamber into the engine intake, or by installing the engine inside the plenum chamber itself.