PROPULSORS, AIRCRAFT INCLUDING THE PROPULSORS, AND METHODS OF DIRECTING A FLUID STREAM IN A PROPULSOR

摘要

Propulsors, aircraft including the propulsors, and methods of directing a fluid stream in a propulsor. The propulsors include a housing defining a partially enclosed volume that extends from an inlet to both a first thrust outlet and a second thrust outlet. The propulsors also include a fan assembly including a plurality of blades and a blade pitch control mechanism that is configured to selectively vary a respective pitch angle of each blade in the plurality of blades. The fan assembly is configured to provide a motive force for fluid flow into the partially enclosed volume via the inlet. The propulsors further include an outlet flow control assembly configured to direct the fluid flow to preferentially exit the partially enclosed volume via a selected one of the first thrust outlet and the second thrust outlet. The aircraft include the propulsors. The methods include methods of operating the propulsors.