Abstract: An axial-flow fan having a stepped housing defined by an inlet part and an outlet part, the outlet part having the inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the inlet part, the inlet part adjoined to an inlet tube of an inside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outlet part of the housing. The outlet part of the housing accommodates a rotor having blades arranged such that their forward tips are located in the inlet part of the housing and a ferrule being secured at a certain distance from the inlet tube coaxially with the housing to form with the housing an annular chamber having on the side of the rotor an inlet passage and on the side of the inlet tube an outlet passage. Rigidly affixed in this chamber are guide vanes pointing by their heels to the inlet tube. The heels of the guide vanes extend to the inlet tube and are radially curved at a portion between the inlet tube and the ferrule to form an annular radial grill.

Abstract: There is provided a propulsion installation of an air-cushion transport vcle wherein an axial fan having working blades is installed in an annular duct; a ring slat is positioned before said annular duct so that said annular duct and said ring slat form therebetween an annular passage the exit of which is disposed ahead of said working blades installed in said annular passage is a vane cascade made up of curved plates, with a concave portion of each being directed toward a pressure side of said working blades.

Abstract: There is proposed a lift and propulsion unit for an air-cushion transport vehicle, with an axial fan installed at the entrance portion of an annular duct and at the exit of said annular duct is disposed a thrust nozzle comprising a reversing-and-steering device with independently rotatable rudder blades and reversing vanes installed in the walls of said thrust nozzle after said axial fan; said rudder blades close the exit section of said thrust nozzle during reversal of the thrust and make with each other an obtuse angle whose apex is directed toward said axial fan, and the side walls of said reversing-and-steering device are made in the form of a polyhedral vaned surface each facet of which is comprised by a cascade of bow-shaped reversing vanes.The invention may be used in the development of air-cushion transport vehicles, self-propelled transport platforms and apparatus in which the translatory motion is effected due to a reactive thrust provided by the ejected air stream.