Performance of airfoils and hydrofoils
AssigneeSJK Energy Solutions, LLC
InventorsSteven J. Kanstoroom, Maximilian de Arriz, Joseph M. Galliera, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow transitioner configured so as to define a pressure surface and a suction surface when exposed to relative fluid flow is positioned and oriented with respect to an associated wing, stabilizer, blade or other foil so as to affect fluid flow impacting such foil irrespective of the foil's orientation to the fluid flow or, with respect to a rotor blade, propellor, or other rotating foil, irrespective of the longitudinal axis (axis of rotation) or direction of rotation of the rotating foil, to alter the lift-to-drag ratio of the foil. Embodiments include flow transitioners of variable angle, curvature, thickness, length, and/or leading edge nose circle diameter.
Claims18
A wing assembly comprising:
- a primary wing, wherein the primary wing has a primary suction surface, a primary pressure surface, a primary leading edge defined by a primary leading edge circle, a primary trailing edge, and a primary chord line extending from the primary leading edge to the primary trailing edge;
- and
- a flow transitioner positioned over the primary leading edge, wherein the flow transitioner comprises:
- a transitioner leading edge defined by a transitioner leading edge circle;
- a transitioner chord line extending from the transitioner leading edge to the primary leading edge, wherein the primary chord line and the transitioner chord line are oriented at different angles, such that the transitioner chord line has a lower angle of attack than the primary chord line;
- a transitioner suction surface extending from the transitioner leading edge to a suction surface trailing edge defining a transition at which the transitioner suction surface is attached to the primary suction surface;
- and
- a transitioner pressure surface extending from the transitioner leading edge to a pressure surface trailing edge defining a transition at which the transitioner pressure surface is attached to the primary pressure surface, wherein the transitioner leading edge is positioned forward of the primary leading edge, and wherein, at a particular spanwise position of the assembly:
- (1) a diameter of the transitioner leading edge circle is 1% to 70% of a diameter of the primary leading edge circle, or
- (2) the diameter of the transitioner leading edge circle is 5% to 55% of a maximum thickness between the primary suction surface and the primary pressure surface, or
- (3) a length of the transitioner chord line is 5% to 18% of a length of the primary chord line.
A flow transitioner configured to be coupled with a primary wing, wherein the primary wing has a primary suction surface, a primary pressure surface, a primary leading edge defined by a primary leading edge circle, a primary trailing edge, and a primary chord line extending from the primary leading edge to the primary trailing edge, wherein the flow transitioner comprises:
- a transitioner leading edge defined by a transitioner leading edge circle;
- a transitioner chord line extending from the transitioner leading edge to the primary leading edge, wherein the primary chord line and the transitioner chord line are oriented at different angles, such that the transitioner chord line has a lower angle of attack than the primary chord line;
- a transitioner suction surface extending from the transitioner leading edge to a suction surface trailing edge defining a transition at which the transitioner suction surface is attached to the primary suction surface;
- and
- a transitioner pressure surface extending from the transitioner leading edge to a pressure surface trailing edge defining a transition at which the transitioner pressure surface is attached to the primary pressure surface, wherein the transitioner leading edge is positioned forward of the primary leading edge, and wherein, at a particular spanwise position of the flow transitioner:
- (1) a diameter of the transitioner leading edge circle is 1% to 70% of a diameter of the primary leading edge circle, or
- (2) the diameter of the transitioner leading edge circle is 5% to 55% of a maximum thickness between the primary suction surface and the primary pressure surface, or
- (3) a length of the transitioner chord line is 5% to 18% of a length of the primary chord line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.