# US 10,308,350 B2 · Active flow control systems and methods for aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,350 B2 - Document ID: US10308350B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/234,702 - Filed: 2016-08-11 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-11 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Arvin Shmilovich; Yoram Yadlin; Paul Vijgen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308350B2 ## CPC - B64C 9/38: Jet flaps - B64C 21/02: by use of slot, ducts, porous areas or the like - B64C 21/04: for blowing - B64C 21/08: adjustable - G05D 7/0664: {the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a plurality of diverging flows from a single flow (G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13)} - B64C 23/00: Influencing air flow over aircraft surfaces, not otherwise provided for - B64C 2230/04: by actively generating fluid flow - B64C 2230/06: by explicitly adjusting fluid flow, e.g. by using valves, variable aperture or slot areas, variable pump action or variable fluid pressure - Y02T 50/10: Drag reduction - Y02T 50/30: Wing lift efficiency - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Example active flow control systems and methods for aircraft are described herein. An example method includes supplying pressurized air to a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles arranged in an array across a control surface of an aircraft, and the nozzles are oriented to eject the pressurized air in a substantially streamwise direction. The method further includes activating the nozzles to eject the pressurized air in sequence to create a wave of air moving in a spanwise direction across the control surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: supplying pressurized air to a plurality of nozzles, the nozzles arranged in an array across a control surface of an aircraft, the nozzles oriented to eject the pressurized air in a substantially streamwise direction; activating, during a first time period, the nozzles to eject the pressurized air in sequence to create a single wave of air moving in a spanwise direction across the control surface; and activating, during a second time period, the nozzles to eject the pressurized air in sequence to create a first wave of air and a second wave of air occurring simultaneously and moving in the spanwise direction across the control surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the activating of the nozzles in sequence includes activating and deactivating the nozzles such that only one of the nozzles is activated at a time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the activating of the nozzles in sequence includes activating and deactivating the nozzles such that multiple nozzles are activated at a time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second wave of air is separated from the first wave of air by at least one of the nozzles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzles are converging-diverging nozzles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzles are activated in sequence from outboard to inboard. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the activating of the nozzles is repeated at a frequency that prevents full separation of airflow over the control surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including selecting a wave pattern based on at least one of an ambient air temperature, an altitude, an airspeed of the aircraft, a ground speed of the aircraft, a position of the control surface or a weather condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further including activating the nozzles in accordance with the wave pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the nozzles is activated for a same period of time. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising: a plurality of nozzles arranged in an array across a control surface of an aircraft, the nozzles oriented to eject air in a substantially streamwise direction; an air source coupled to the nozzles; and a controller to: activate, during a first time period, the nozzles to eject air in sequence in accordance with a first wave pattern to create a narrow wave of air moving in a spanwise direction across the control surface; and activate, during a second time period, the nozzles to eject air in sequence in accordance with a second wave pattern to create a wide wave of air moving in the spanwise direction across the control surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control surface includes a slot extending spanwise across the control surface, the nozzles disposed within the control surface and exposed via the slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the control surface is in a stored position, the nozzles are not exposed, and when the control surface is in a deployed position, the nozzles are exposed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the control surface is deployed, the nozzles are orientated to eject air at an angle of about 20 degrees relative to an upper surface of the control surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control surface is at least one of a flap, an aileron, a slat, an elevator or a spoiler. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the air source is from at least one of bleed air from an engine of the aircraft, an auxiliary power unit or a compressor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the nozzles are converging-diverging nozzles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the converging-diverging nozzles eject the air at a supersonic speed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further including a plurality of valves associated with respective ones of the nozzles.