Curved interface between an outer end of a wing and a moveable wing tip device
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorBenjamin BISHOP
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft (1002) including a wing (1001), having a fixed wing (1005) with a wing tip device (1003) moveably mounted at the outer end thereof. The wing tip device (1003) is moveable between: a flight configuration; and a ground configuration about an axis of rotation. The wing tip device (1003) and the fixed wing (1005) meet along an interfacing cut line (1035). The interfacing cut line (1035) includes a curved section (1039) cent red on the axis of rotation (1011), the radius of the curved section constantly increasing as the cut line passes around the axis (for example a spiral shape).
Claims16
An aircraft wing including a fixed wing and a wing tip device moveably mounted at an outer end of the fixed wing, the wing tip device being moveable between:
- (a) a flight configuration for use during flight;
- and
- (b) a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is rotated away from the flight configuration about an axis of rotation such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced, and
- wherein when the wing tip device is in the flight configuration, an outer end of the fixed wing and an inner end of the wing tip device meet along an interfacing cut line that separates an outer surface of the fixed wing and an outer surface of the wing tip device,
- the interfacing cut line comprising:
- a curved section centred on the axis of rotation, wherein a radius of the curved section continuously increasing as the interfacing cut line passes around the axis.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of designing an interface between an outer end of a fixed wing and an inner end of a wing tip device for an aircraft,
- the wing tip device being moveable between:
- (i) a flight configuration for use during flight;
- and
- (ii) a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is rotated away from the flight configuration about an axis of rotation such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced,
- wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- defining an interfacing cut line that separates an outer surface of the fixed wing and an outer surface of the wing tip device, and
- defining a curved section centred on the axis of rotation, a radius of the curved section continuously increasing as the cut line passes around the axis.
An aircraft comprising a wing, the wing having a fixed wing with a wing tip device moveably mounted at the outer end thereof, the wing tip device being moveable between:
- (a) a flight configuration for use during flight;
- and
- (b) a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is moved away from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced,
- wherein the wing tip device is rotatable between the flight and ground configurations, about an inclined axis of rotation, such that the wing tip device rotates upwards and rearwards when moving from the flight to ground configurations, and
- wherein, when the wing tip device is in the flight configuration, an outer end of the fixed wing and an inner end of the wing tip device meet along an interfacing cut line that separates an outer surface of the fixed wing and an outer surface the wing tip device,
- the interfacing cut line comprising a substantially spiral-shaped curved section centred on the axis of rotation, wherein a radius of the curved section continuously increasing as the cut line passes around the axis such that adjacent portions of the fixed wing and wing tip device on either side of the interfacing cut line, separate as the wing tip device moves from the flight configuration towards the ground configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.