Laminar flow panel
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsHenry J. Koppelman, Paul S. Gregg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerodynamic body operable to both promote laminar flow and satisfy structural requirements is disclosed. A perforated panel skin comprises an inner surface and an outer surface of the aerodynamic body. At least one hollow member is coupled to the inner surface and is operable to suction air from the outer surface and through the perforated panel skin. The at least one hollow member is oriented in a substantially chord-wise direction relative to an airflow over the aerodynamic body.
Claims18
An aerodynamic body defining a chord-wise direction relative to an airflow over the aerodynamic body, comprising:
- a panel skin defining an exterior of the aerodynamic body and having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of perforations extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;
- and
- a corrugated stiffener having a plurality of joints coupled to the panel skin, and a plurality of ridges spaced inwardly from the panel skin to define a plurality of hollow members between the ridges of the corrugated stiffener and the panel skin, each hollow member fluidly communicating with at least one perforation, the ridges being oriented so that the hollow members extend substantially in the chord-wise direction, wherein the panel skin inner surface and a downstream end of the corrugated stiffener define a plurality of outlets of the hollow members, the outlets being oriented to form a plurality of aft-facing vents fluidly communicating between the plurality of hollow members and an interior of the aerodynamic body.
A method of generating a laminar flow from an airflow passing over an exterior of an aerodynamic body, the aerodynamic body defining a chord-wise direction relative to the airflow, the method comprising:
- communicating a portion of the airflow through perforations formed in a panel skin of the aerodynamic body, the panel skin defining the exterior of the aerodynamic body;
- directing the portion of the airflow from the perforations into hollow members formed by a corrugated stiffener having a plurality of joints coupled to the panel skin and a plurality of ridges spaced inwardly from the panel skin, wherein the hollow members are defined between the ridges and the panel skin, the ridges being oriented so that the hollow members extend substantially in the chord-wise direction;
- and
- venting the hollow members directly into an interior of the aerodynamic body through hollow member outlets formed between the panel skin and a downstream end of the corrugated stiffener, the hollow member outlets being oriented to form a plurality of aft-facing vents.
An aerodynamic body defining a chord-wise direction relative to an airflow over the aerodynamic body, comprising:
- a panel skin defining an exterior of the aerodynamic body and having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of perforations extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;
- and
- a corrugated stiffener having a plurality of joints coupled to the panel skin, and a plurality of ridges spaced inwardly from the panel skin to define a plurality of hollow members between the ridges of the corrugated stiffener and the panel skin, each hollow member fluidly communicating with at least one perforation, the ridges being oriented so that the hollow members extend substantially in the chord-wise direction, the plurality of ridges defining an innermost margin of the corrugated stiffener, wherein the panel skin inner surface and a downstream end of the corrugated stiffener define a plurality of outlets of the hollow members, the outlets being oriented to form a plurality of aft-facing vents fluidly communicating between the hollow members and an interior of the aerodynamic body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.