摘要 |
A split fan for providing lift for an aircraft is described. In one embodiment, a main engine shaft extends to the split fan, and a portion of the split fan is located at an elevation above the main engine shaft and a portion of the split fan is located at an elevation below the main engine shaft. In the one embodiment, the split fan includes an outer casing configured to be mounted to a fuselage of the aircraft, a first stage rotor including a shaft, a gear secured to the shaft, and a plurality of rotor blades radially extending from the shaft. The split fan also includes a second stage rotor including a shaft, a gear secured to the shaft, and a plurality of blades radially extending from the shaft. A drive shaft having a first end and a second end is coupled at the drive shaft first end to the main engine shaft. A drive gear is located at the second end of the drive shaft, and the first stage rotor gear and the second stage rotor gear are coupled to the drive gear so that as the drive gear rotates, the first stage rotor gear rotates in a first direction and the second stage rotor gear rotates in a second direction.
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