Trailing edge flap assembly

A trailing edge flap assembly for an airfoil having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, an upper surface and a lower surface, and a forward end and a rear end, said flap assembly comprising:

• a. a track member defining a track path which has a substantially longitudinal track component, said track member being pivotally mounted at a pivot location at the rear end of the airfoil for up and down rotational movement,
• b. a flap member having a forward end and a rear end, said flap member having a track following mounting means mounted in said track member for movement between a first retracted forward position and a second extended rear position,
• c. said track member and said flap member being so arranged that with said flap member in its retracted position, said pivot location is sufficiently close to the forward end of the flap member to permit upward rotational movement of the flap member to an upward cambered position, and downward rotational movement of the flap member to a downward cambered position, with the flap forward end remaining within aerodynamic contours of the airfoil in both the upward and downward positions,
• d. said track member and said flap member further being arranged so that with said flap member in its extended position, said track member may be rotated to move said flap member to an upper location in its extended position and also to a lower location in its extended position,
• e. said flap member being so arranged relative to a trailing edge of the upper surface of the airfoil that with said flap member in its retracted position, an upper surface of the flap member remains in contact with the trailing edge of the upper surface of the airfoil, and with the flap member in its extended position the upper surface of the flap member is spaced from the trailing edge of the upper surface of the airfoil to provide a slot between the flap member and the airfoil,
• f. a first independent actuating means to rotate the track member from an intermediate location both upwardly and downwardly when said flap member is in its retracted position, and also when said flap member is in its extended position,
• g. a second independent actuating means to move the flap between its first and second positions, said second and first actuating means each being independently operable so that the first actuating means can rotate the track member independently of any actuation of the second actuating means, so that the track member with the flap member can be rotated upwardly and downwardly, with the flap member remaining in either its retracted position or its extended position.

A trailing edge flap assembly for an airfoil having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, an upper surface and a lower surface, and a forward end and a rear end, said flap assembly comprising:

• a. a track member defining a track path which has a substantially longitudinal track component, said track member being pivotally mounted at a pivot location at the rear end of the airfoil for up and down rotational movement,
• b. a flap member having a forward end and a rear end, said flap member having a track following mounting means mounted in said track member for movement between a first retracted forward position and a second extended rear position,
• c. said track member and said flap member being so arranged that with said flap member in its retracted position, said pivot location is sufficiently close to the forward end of the flap member to permit upward rotational movement of the flap member to an upward cambered position, and downward rotational movement of the flap member to a downward cambered position, with the flap forward end remaining within aerodynamic contours of the airfoil in both the upward and downward position,
• d. said track member and said flap member further being arranged so that with said flap member in its extended position, said track member is able to be rotated to move said flap member to an upper location in its extended position and also to a lower location in its extended position,
• e. said airfoil having a flexible upper skin panel at the upper trailing edge of the upper surface of the airfoil, said assembly further comprising slave link means to interconnect said upper skin panel with said track member so that the flexible upper skin panel remains in contact with an upper surface of the flap member, with the flap member in its retracted position,
• f. a first independent actuating means to rotate the track member from an intermediate location both upwardly and downwardly when said flap member is in its retracted position, and also when said flap member is in its extended position,
• g. a second independent actuating means to move the flap between its first and second positions, said second and first actuating means each being independently operable so that the first actuating means can rotate the track member independently of any actuation of the second actuating means, so that the track member with the flap member can be rotated upwardly and downwardly, with the flap member remaining in either its retracted position or its extended position.