Drag modification systems for aircraft and related methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorSteve G. Mackin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Drag modification systems for aircraft and related methods. An example system for modifying drag on an aircraft includes a boundary layer intake plenum and an eductor. The eductor defines a primary inlet to receive a primary fluid, a secondary inlet in fluid communication with the intake plenum to receive a secondary fluid entrained from the intake plenum, and an outlet to exhaust a mixed flow including the primary fluid and the secondary fluid. The primary fluid is a motive fluid having flow parameters to generate a suction at the secondary inlet.
Claims21
A system to modify drag on an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a boundary layer intake plenum;
- an eductor defining:
- a primary inlet to receive a primary fluid;
- a secondary inlet in fluid communication with the intake plenum to receive a secondary fluid entrained from the intake plenum;
- and
- an outlet to exhaust a mixed flow including the primary fluid and the secondary fluid, the primary fluid being a motive fluid having flow parameters to generate a suction at the secondary inlet.
A system to modify drag of an aircraft, the system including:
- a manifold defining a passageway to extend between an exterior of a fuselage of the aircraft and an exhaust of the aircraft, the passageway including:
- a first inlet in fluid communication with a motive fluid;
- a second inlet in fluid communication with the exterior of the fuselage;
- and
- an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust, the motive fluid to generate a suction to cause airflow to draw through the second inlet and channel the airflow to the exhaust to reduce drag.
A method to reduce drag of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- providing a high energy airflow into an eductor;
- entraining air from an intake plenum into the high energy airflow via the eductor;
- receiving a boundary layer airflow into the intake plenum as a result of a negative pressure gradient effectuated by entrainment of air from the intake plenum into the eductor;
- and
- discharging the high energy airflow and the boundary layer airflow from the eductor.
21-24. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.