Airflow interrupting devices
AssigneeTamarack Aerospace Group, Inc.
InventorNicholas R. Guida
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow interrupting device may cause a flow to separate from a wingtip device at a desired angle of attack. The flow interrupting device may be coupled to a leading edge of a wingtip device where a flow disruptor may be configured to alleviate a load on the wingtip device. The flow disrupter may comprise an edge that extends into a boundary layer at a threshold angle of attack that may disrupt the boundary layer and cause a flow to separate from the wingtip device. This separated flow may reduce stresses experienced by the wingtip device and wing during various flight conditions where a transverse flow is encountered.
Claims10
A winglet comprising:
- a substantially horizontal portion;
- a substantially vertical portion extending from the substantially horizontal portion, the substantially vertical portion comprising a leading edge;
- and
- a flow interrupting device disposed solely on the substantially vertical portion, the flow interrupting device including:
- a first edge coupled to a portion of the leading edge, and
- a second edge having a flow disruptor disposed within a boundary layer of air passing over the winglet at a threshold angle of attack, the flow disruptor configured to disrupt the boundary layer and cause (i) a flow to separate from the winglet to alleviate a load on the winglet and (ii) reduce an amount of lift generated by the winglet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.