Slat for an aircraft wing
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorDenys Custance
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A slat (108) for the leading edge of a swept aircraft wing includes slat tracks (114) that dictate the path of movement of the slat as it moves from a retracted position (FIG. 7) to a fully deployed position (FIG. 15). Each slat track (114) has a shape that follows a helical path. The motion of the slat thus includes a component of rotation about a first axis, which may be perpendicular to the line of flight (120) and a component of translational movement parallel to the first axis. When viewed from above the slat may move predominantly in a direction parallel to the line of flight (120).
Claims20
A slat for a leading edge of an aircraft wing, the slat including:
- at least two slat tracks that in use dictate a path of movement of the slat as the slat moves from a retracted positon to a fully deployed position, wherein each of the at least two slat tracks has a shape that follows a helical path, and
- an aerofoil surface fixed to the at least two slat tracks,
- wherein the aerofoil surface and the at least two slat tracks are configured to move along the helical path as the aerofoil surface and the at least two slat tracks deploy forward of the leading edge of the aircraft wing.
A swept aircraft wing including:
- a leading edge;
- a trailing edge;
- a slat configured to extend from the leading edge of the aircraft wing;
- and
- at least two slat tracks supporting the slat and each having a shape configured to move the slat and the at least two slat tracks along a helical path as the at least two slat tracks and the slat extend forward of the leading edge of the aircraft wing.
A method comprising:
- deploying or retracting a slat on a swept aircraft wing to move the slat between a fully deployed position and a fully retracted position, wherein the slat includes an aerofoil surface supported by at least two slat tracks which dictate a path of movement;
- wherein a movement of the slat from the fully retracted position to the fully deployed position includes:
- extending of both the aerofoil surface and the at least two slat tracks forward of a leading edge of the swept aircraft wing along the path of movement;
- rotation of the aerofoil surface and the at least two slat tracks about a first axis fixed in space relative to the swept aircraft wing and spaced from a notional envelope relative to the swept aircraft wing within which the slat moves during the movement, and
- translational movement parallel to the first axis, wherein a speed of the translation is proportional to a speed of the rotation about the first axis.
A slat for a leading edge of an aircraft wing, the slat including:
- an aerofoil surface positioned forward of a leading edge of the aircraft wing;
- at least two slat tracks supporting the aerofoil surface and extending into the aircraft wing,
- wherein each slat track of the at least two slat tracks is configured to extend forward of the leading edge of the aircraft wing,
- wherein each slat track of the at least two slat tracks has a helical shape along a length of the slat track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.