A device which increases the energy efficiency and aerodynamic properties of aircraft was developed. A wingtip pusher propeller is positioned aft of the wingtip to rotate in the crossflow of the wingtip vortex. The propeller rotates against the vortex swirl creating additional thrust from and attenuating the wingtip vortex by simultaneously extracting energy from the vortex and converting it to propeller blade-induced thrust. The propeller injects its high energy wake into the vortex axial flow to dissipate the vortex. The device increases aircraft fuel efficiency by simultaneously increasing thrust and decreasing vortex induced drag. By attenuating the vortex, safety to following aircraft is maximized.


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    Wingtip vortex turbine

    Patterson, James C., Jr. | NTRS | 1990


    Wingtip vortex dissipator for aircraft

    Patterson, J. C., Jr. | NTRS | 1976


    Adaptive control of wingtip vortex

    Matthewson, Charles / Vakili, Ahmad / Gowanlock, Derek | AIAA | 1998


    Wingtip Vortex Turbine Investigation for Vortex Energy Recovery

    Wunschel, Alfred J. / Stough, H. Paul / Patterson, James C. et al. | SAE Technical Papers | 1990