VORTEX GENERATOR AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF

摘要

The invention relates to a vortex generator (1) comprising a cylindrical housing (5) with a closed first end face and an open second end face; an impeller (2) with a plurality of blades (3) rotatably mounted within the cylindrical housing; drive means (4) for driving the impeller about a central axis of the cylindrical housing; whereby, in use, the rotating impeller generates a vortex with a reduced pressure core between each pair of adjacent blades so as to form a vortical attraction force that attracts the vortex generator towards a horizontal, sloping, vertical and/or inverted surface arranged adjacent the open second end face. The tip of each blade may be arranged a predetermined distance from the cylindrical housing so that, in use, the rotating impeller further generates a hypocycloidal flow with mini -vortices. The vortex generator may be used as part of a vehicle (18) to so as to attract the vehicle to a horizontal, sloping, vertical and/or inverted surface. The vehicle may further comprise means for moving the vehicle across the surface and preferably means for conducting an operation when located at a position on the surface.