# US 2018/0023618 A1 · Foil hinge system

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- Number: US 2018/0023618 A1
- Document ID: US20180023618A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/656,688
- Filed: 2017-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22
- Inventors: Giovanni Galeotti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023618A1

## CPC

- F16C 11/12: incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
- B63B 1/248: {Shape, hydrodynamic features, construction of the foil}
- B64C 3/48: by relatively-movable parts of wing structures
- B64C 9/02: Mounting or supporting thereof
- B64C 9/16: at the rear of the wing
- B64C 9/22: at the front of the wing
- B63B 1/28: with movable hydrofoils
- B64C 2009/005: {Ailerons}
- Y02T 50/10: Drag reduction
- Y02T 50/30: Wing lift efficiency
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A foil hinge system for a hydrofoil or airfoil includes a main foil body 1, substantially extending in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T, a flap 2 hinged to the main foil body 1 arranged on a longitudinal end side of the main foil body 1, and a flexible element 3 connecting the main foil body 1 and the flap 2. Several rigid structures 4, 5 are arranged in such a manner on the flexible element 3, that they provide a dead stop when the flap 2 is in a maximum deflection with respect to the main foil body 1.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foil hinge system for a hydrofoil or airfoil, comprising:
a main foil body, substantially extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction,
a flap hinged to the main foil body arranged on a longitudinal end side of the main foil body, and
a flexible element connecting the main foil body and the flap,
wherein several rigid structures are arranged in such a manner on the flexible element, that they provide a dead stop when the flap is in a maximum deflection with respect to the main foil body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein the rigid structures are shaped and arranged on the flexible element such that a gap is provided between the adjacent rigid structures, which enables movement of the flap relative to the main foil body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The foil hinge system according to claim 2, wherein the rigid structures substantially extend in the transversal direction and the gap is provided in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element substantially extends in a longitudinal direction and transverse direction and connects the main foil body and flap in the longitudinal direction, wherein the rigid structures are provided in a spanwise direction on both sides of the flexible element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element is made of a thin flexible composite sheet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element is made of an anisotropic material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein flexible element is made of a composite sheet material, whose fiber direction orientation and/or laminate thickness is altered locally.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein at least three rigid structures are arranged on the flexible element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein the rigid structures have a wedge-like form increasing their longitudinal width in the spanwise direction towards the flexible element, wherein when the flap is in its central position, the adjacent surfaces of two adjacent rigid structures are arranged in an angle (α) to each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein an elastic cover is provided between the main foil body and flap and covers the rigid structures.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The foil hinge system according to claim 10, wherein the elastic cover comprises a boundary elastomer which is directly arranged on the rigid structure and an outside elastomer which is arranged on the boundary elastomer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The foil hinge system according to claim 10, wherein the elastic cover provides a continuous surface between the flap and main foil body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein chamfers are provided at the longitudinal end sides of the main foil body and/or flap, which are adjacent to the flexible element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The foil hinge system according to claim 1, wherein the rigid structures are adapted to come into contact with respective adjacent rigid structures when the flap is in a maximum deflection regarding the main foil body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

An airfoil or Hydrofoil comprising the foil hinge according to claim 1, wherein the flap is a leading edge flap, trailing edge flap, aileron or trim tab.