# US 2013/0153711 A1 · Minimally intrusive wingtip vortex wake mitigation using inside-mold-line surface modifications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153711 A1 - Document ID: US20130153711A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,592 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Perry Wooden; Ruble E. Moor; Eric F. Charlton; Daniel N. Miller; Edwin L. Blosch; Jeffrey J. Azevedo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153711A1 ## CPC - B64C 21/02: by use of slot, ducts, porous areas or the like - B64C 23/065: {at the wing tips} - B64C 2003/143: {comprising interior channels} - B64C 2230/20: by passively inducing fluid flow, e.g. by means of a pressure difference between both ends of a slot or duct - Y02T 50/10: Drag reduction - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device comprising an intake port disposed in a first surface of an airfoil and an exit port in fluid communication with the intake port and disposed in a second surface of the airfoil where air pressure is less than at the first surface when the airfoil is producing lift. The channel and exit port are positioned and configured to direct diverted air in such a way as to weaken an airfoil tip vortex that's produced by the airfoil when the airfoil is producing lift. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device comprising: an intake port disposed in a first surface of an airfoil; an exit port in fluid communication with the intake port and disposed in a second surface of the airfoil where air pressure is less than at the first surface when the airfoil is producing lift; and a channel connecting the intake port and the exit port; the channel and exit port being positioned and configured to direct diverted air in such a way as to weaken an airfoil tip vortex generated by the airfoil when the airfoil is producing lift. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 1 in which the channel extends and provides fluid communication between the intake port and the exit port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 2 in which the channel is positioned adjacent a tip of the airfoil. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 2 in which the channel is positioned close to a center of pressure of the airfoil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 2 in which the channel is routed through the airfoil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 5 in which the channel and exit port are positioned and configured to weaken the airfoil tip vortex by spreading out and mixing airflow that creates and sustains the tip vortex. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 6 in which the channel and exit port are positioned and configured to direct diverted air over the second surface in such a way as to weaken an airfoil tip vortex being produced by the airfoil when the airfoil is producing lift. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 7 in which the intake port is disposed in a bottom surface of the airfoil and the exit port is disposed in a top surface of the airfoil such that higher pressure air is directed by the channel upward from the bottom surface through the airfoil to the top surface exit port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 8 in which the intake port is disposed in a bottom surface of the airfoil in a position to divert high pressure air from a generally spanwise path that would otherwise travel past the airfoil tip and feed an airfoil tip vortex. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 8 in which the channel and exit port are configured and positioned to allow air to flow from the high pressure surface to the low pressure surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 10 in which the intake and exit ports are disposed adjacent a tip of the airfoil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 5 in which the channel and exit port are positioned and configured to direct diverted air directly into the airfoil tip vortex in such a way as to disrupt the vortex. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 12 in which: the exit port is a slot formed along a tip of the airfoil; and the channel is configured to inject air through the exit port into a core region of the tip vortex. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 13 in which the intake port is formed in a top surface of the airfoil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 13 in which the intake port is formed in a bottom surface of the airfoil. ### Claim 16 An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device comprising: an intake port disposed in a first surface of an airfoil; an exit port in fluid communication with the intake port and disposed in a second surface of the airfoil where air pressure is less than at the first surface when the airfoil is producing lift; and a channel disposed adjacent a tip of the airfoil, routed through the airfoil, connecting the intake port and the exit port, and providing fluid communication between the intake port and the exit port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 16 in which the channel is positioned close to a center of pressure of the airfoil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 16 in which the intake port is disposed in a bottom surface of the airfoil and the exit port is disposed in a top surface of the airfoil such that higher pressure air is directed by the channel upward from the bottom surface through the airfoil to the top surface exit port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) An airfoil tip vortex mitigation device as defined in claim 16 in which: the exit port is a slot formed along a tip of the airfoil; the channel is configured to inject air through the exit port into a core region of the tip vortex; and the intake port is formed in one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the airfoil.