Foldable moveable member for an air vehicle with fold region having a plurality of holes
AssigneeMbda UK Limited
InventorJeffrey Thornton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A foldable moveable member for an air vehicle. The moveable member includes a sheet. The sheet has a first portion, a second portion, and a fold region. The first portion is connected to the second portion via the fold region, and the fold region comprises a plurality of holes such that the stiffness of the fold region is lower than the first or second portion. The fold region, the first portion, and the second portion form a continuous surface.
Claims13
A foldable flight control member comprising a sheet, the sheet comprising:
- a first portion,
- a second portion, and
- a fold region, wherein:
- the first portion is connected to the second portion via the fold region, wherein the fold region comprises a fold line, such that when the foldable moveable member folds, the first portion moves relative to the second portion about the fold line, the fold region defining a plurality of elongate holes such that the stiffness of the fold region is lower than the first or second portion, wherein each elongate hole is resolved into a first length component parallel to the fold line and a second length component orthogonal to the fold line, wherein the first length component parallel to the fold line is greater than the second length component orthogonal to the fold line, and
- the fold region, the first portion and the second portion form a continuous surface.
A method of deploying, on an air vehicle, foldable flight control member comprising a sheet, the sheet comprising:
- a first portion,
- a second portion, and
- a fold region, wherein the fold region comprises a fold line, such that when the foldable member folds, the first portion moves relative to the second portion about the fold line, wherein:
- the first portion is connected to the second portion via the fold region,
- the fold region includes a plurality of elongate holes, wherein each elongate hole is resolved into a first length component parallel to the fold line and a second length component orthogonal to the fold line, wherein the first length component parallel to the fold line is greater than the second length component orthogonal to the fold line, and
- the fold region, the first portion and the second portion form a continuous surface, the method comprising the step of:
- rotating the first portion relative to the second portion from a stowed position to a deployed position by bending the fold region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.