Systems and methods for folding wings on an aircraft
AssigneeBlended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
InventorBlaine Knight Rawdon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects relate to systems and methods for folding wings on an aircraft. An exemplary system includes a blended wing body, where the blended wing body includes a main body and at least a wing, a hinge located on the at least a wing and configured to allow folding of the at least a wing, an actuation system configured to fold the at least a wing, and a controller configured to control the at least an actuation system.
Claims20
A system for folding wings on an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a blended wing body, wherein the blended wing body comprises:
- a main body;
- and
- at least a wing comprising an outboard flight component;
- a hinge located on the blended wing body and configured to allow folding of the at least a wing, wherein the hinge is inboard relative to the outboard flight component;
- an actuation system configured to fold the at least a wing;
- a controller configured to control the at least an actuation system;
- and
- a transmission system comprising at least a service loop, wherein the transmission system is configured to communicate with the outboard flight component and permit folding of the at least a wing by the service loop not interfering with movement of the at least a wing during folding.
A method of folding wings on an aircraft comprising a blended wing body, wherein the blended wing body comprises a main body and at least a wing, the method comprising:
- allowing, using a hinge located on the blended wing body, folding of the at least a wing;
- folding, using an actuation system, the at least a wing;
- and
- controlling, using a controller, the at least an actuation system;
- and
- permitting, using a service loop of a transmission system communicating with an outboard flight component of the at least a wing, folding of the at least a wing by not interfering with movement of the at least a wing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.