Translating flight control surface for aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAndrew J. Hubbard, Richard C. Potter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aerodynamic device includes a main aerodynamic body having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a flight control surface coupled to the main aerodynamic body near the trailing edge of the main aerodynamic body, and a translating body coupled to the flight control surface. The translating body is moveable relative to the flight control surface between a sealed position and a retracted position to define a gap. The translating body is extended toward the main aerodynamic body while in the sealed position to close the gap. The translating body is retracted away from the main aerodynamic body while in the retracted position to widen the gap. The gap adjusts an airflow flowing between the main aerodynamic body and the flight control surface.
Claims20
An aerodynamic device comprising:
- a main aerodynamic body having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge;
- a flight control surface coupled to the main aerodynamic body proximate the trailing edge of the main aerodynamic body;
- a translating body coupled to the flight control surface, wherein:
- the translating body is movable relative to the flight control surface between a sealed position and a retracted position to define a gap between main aerodynamic body and the translating body;
- the translating body is extended toward the main aerodynamic body while in the sealed position to close the gap;
- the translating body is retracted away from the main aerodynamic body while in the retracted position to widen the gap;
- and
- the gap adjusts an airflow flowing between the main aerodynamic body and the flight control surface;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the translating body and disposed within the flight control surface, wherein, upon actuation of the actuator, the translating body moves relative to the flight control surface.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- and
- a wing coupled to the fuselage, wherein the wing comprises:
- a main aerodynamic body having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge;
- a flight control surface coupled to the main aerodynamic body near the trailing edge of the main aerodynamic body;
- a translating body coupled to the flight control surface, wherein:
- the translating body is translatable relative to the flight control surface between a sealed position and a retracted position to define a gap between the main aerodynamic body and the translating body;
- the translating body is extended toward the main aerodynamic body while in the sealed position to close the gap;
- the translating body is retracted away from the main aerodynamic body while in the retracted position to widen the gap;
- and
- the gap adjusts an airflow flowing between the main aerodynamic body and the flight control surface;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the translating body and disposed within the flight control surface, wherein, upon actuation of the actuator, the translating body moves relative to the flight control surface.
A method for aerodynamic control, comprising:
- coupling a flight control surface to a main aerodynamic body proximate a trailing edge of the main aerodynamic body;
- coupling a translating body to the flight control surface, wherein the translating body is moveable relative to the flight control surface between a sealed position and a retracted position to define a gap between the main aerodynamic body and the translating body;
- extending the translating body toward the main aerodynamic body while in the sealed position to close the gap;
- retracting the translating body is away from the main aerodynamic body while in the retracted position to widen the gap, wherein the gap adjusts an airflow flowing between the main aerodynamic body and the flight control surface;
- and
- moving the translating body relative to the flight control surface with an actuator, wherein the actuator is coupled to the translating body and disposed within the flight control surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.