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US 12,570,394 B2Granted
Methods for optimizing boundary layer control (BLC) systems and related systems
OwnerDavid Thomas Birkenstockinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for optimizing Boundary Layer Control (BLC) systems and related systems (e.g. a Laminar Flow Control (LFC) system or systems, a Static Pressure Thrust (SPT) system or systems, a Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI)/Wake Immersed Propulsion (WIP) system or systems, and/or low-dissipation BLC fluid-movement system or systems) to operate in concert with each other and a bellows air-moving system are disclosed.
Claims19
A method of optimizing boundary layer control in an aerodynamic body, the aerodynamic body comprising:
- an enclosing structure having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first body portion extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a second body portion extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and disposed opposite the first body portion;
- an inner cavity defined within the enclosing structure;
- at least one bellows assembly disposed in the inner cavity and including at least one primary bellows and at least one secondary bellows;
- wherein the at least one bellows assembly is spaced apart from inner surfaces of the leading edge, the trailing edge, the first body portion, and the second body portion so as to define a void between the at least one bellows assembly and the inner surfaces;
- a first boundary control inlet defined in the first body portion and in communication with the void;
- a second boundary control inlet defined in the second body portion and in communication with the void;
- wherein the method comprises:
- sequentially operating the at least one primary bellows and the at least one secondary bellows.
5 more elements
A method of optimizing boundary layer control in an aerodynamic body, the aerodynamic body comprising:
- an enclosing structure having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first body portion extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a second body portion extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and disposed opposite the first body portion;
- an inner cavity defined within the enclosing structure;
- at least one bellows assembly disposed in the inner cavity and including at least one primary bellows and at least one secondary bellows;
- wherein the at least one bellows assembly is spaced apart from inner surfaces of the leading edge, the trailing edge, the first body portion, and the second body portion so as to define a void between the at least one bellows assembly and the inner surfaces;
- a first boundary control inlet defined in the first body portion and in communication with the void;
- a second boundary control inlet defined in the second body portion and in communication with the void;
- wherein the method comprises:
- maintaining an area of below-ambient pressure adjacent to the at least one primary bellows and the at least one secondary bellows by sequentially contracting the at least one primary bellows and the at least one secondary bellows.
5 more elements
A method of optimizing boundary layer control in an aerodynamic body, the aerodynamic body comprising:
- an enclosing structure having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first body portion extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a second body portion extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and disposed opposite the first body portion;
- an inner cavity defined within the enclosing structure;
- at least one bellows assembly disposed in the inner cavity and including at least one primary bellows and at least one secondary bellows;
- wherein the at least one bellows assembly is spaced apart from inner surfaces of the leading edge, the trailing edge, the first body portion, and the second body portion so as to define a void between the at least one bellows assembly and the inner surfaces;
- a first boundary control inlet defined in the first body portion and in communication with the void;
- a second boundary control inlet defined in the second body portion and in communication with the void;
- wherein the method comprises:
- sequentially operating the at least one primary bellows and the at least one secondary bellows;
- and
- after sequentially operating the at least one primary bellows and the at least one secondary bellows, increasing drag by one of:
- ceasing or reversing sequential operation of the at least one primary bellows and the at least one secondary bellows.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.