Adjustable lift modification wingtip
AssigneeTamarack Aerospace Group, Inc.
InventorNicholas R. Guida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable lift modification wingtip may be attached to a baseline wing of an aircraft. The adjustable lift modification wingtip may comprise a horizontal portion including a control surface and a vertical portion coupled to the horizontal portion. The vertical portion may move about an axis that may be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal portion. The control surface and the vertical portion may be adjusted in conjunction to increase wing efficiency at a flight condition.
Claims16
A winglet fixedly attachable to a baseline wing of an aircraft comprising:
- a horizontal portion comprising a control surface;
- an angled portion coupled to the horizontal portion and projecting at an upward angle from the horizontal portion, the angled portion comprising a cantilevered portion configured to move about an axis that is substantially parallel to the upward angle, the control surface and the angled portion which, when attached to the baseline wing of the aircraft increase wing efficiency at a flight condition;
- and
- a control system for controlling motion of the control surface and the angled portion configured to:
- deflect the control surface down and rotate a leading edge of the angled portion in to increase lift at a first flight condition;
- and
- deflect the control surface up and rotate the leading edge of the angled portion out to decrease lift at a second flight condition.
A wingtip device fixedly attachable to a baseline wing of an aircraft comprising:
- an angled portion coupleable to an outboard portion of the baseline wing, the angled portion configured to fixedly attach to an outboard portion of the baseline wing such that the angled portion projects at an upward angle from the baseline wing, the angled portion comprising a cantilevered portion configured to move about an angled axis that is out of plane with the baseline wing and parallel to the upward angle of the angled portion, the angled portion which, when attached to the baseline wing of the aircraft, and a control surface of the baseline wing increase wing efficiency at a flight condition;
- and
- a control system for controlling motion of the control surface and angled portion configured to:
- deflect the control surface down and rotate a leading edge of the angled portion in to increase lift at a first flight condition;
- and
- deflect the control surface up and rotate the leading edge of the angled portion out to decrease lift at a second flight condition.
A method comprising:
- receiving in-flight flight condition data from a sensor located on an aircraft;
- and
- adjusting a control surface and angled portion of a wingtip device attached to an outboard portion of a baseline wing of the aircraft based at least in part on the received in-flight flight condition data, the control surface located on a horizontal portion of the baseline wing of the aircraft, the angled portion comprising a cantilevered portion is coupled to and projects at an upward angle from the baseline wing, the cantilevered portion adjustable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the upward angle of the angled portion, the adjusting of the control surface and angled portion comprising:
- rotating the control surface along a horizontal axis such that an edge of the control surface moves up or down in relation to the baseline wing and rotating the cantilevered portion about the axis that is substantially parallel to the upward angle of the angled such that an edge of the angled portion moves in or out in relationship to the baseline wing,
- deflecting the control surface down and rotate a leading edge of the angled portion in to increase lift at a first flight condition;
- and
- deflecting the control surface up and rotate the leading edge of the angled portion out to decrease lift at a second flight condition.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a baseline wing, the baseline wing coupled to the fuselage at a first end of the baseline wing;
- and
- a wing extension comprising:
- a horizontal portion coupled to a second end of the baseline wing, such that the horizontal portion is outboard of the baseline wing, the horizontal portion comprising a control surface;
- an angled portion coupled to the horizontal portion and projecting at an upward angle from the horizontal portion, the angled portion comprising a cantilevered portion configured to move about an axis that is substantially parallel to the upward angle, the control surface and the angled portion, the control surface and the angled portion adjustable in flight to increase wing efficiency at a flight condition;
- and
- a control system for controlling motion of the control surface and angled portion configured to:
- deflect the control surface down and rotate a leading edge of the angled portion in to increase lift at a first flight condition;
- and
- deflect the control surface up and rotate the leading edge of the angled portion out to decrease lift at a second flight condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.