Tandem or multi-winged high performance aircraft
OwnerElbert L. Rutaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a tandem or multi-winged aircraft wherein a primary wing system is so designed and equipped that it is capable of being actuated in a manner to bring about a shift in the neutral point of the craft relative to its center of gravity and wherein a secondary wing system located ahead of the primary one and movable fore and aft relative to the latter is deployed and angled during its excursion so as to effectively counteract the neutral point shift that would be brought about by deploying the primary wing system alone thereby maintaining the neutral point at approximately its former location in at least both the cruise mode as well as the high-lift mode preferred for landing and take-off.
Claims23
A tandem or multi-winged aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- primary and secondary wing systems attached to said fuselage for supplying positive lift thereto;
- propulsion means for generating a forward thrust, said fuselage, wing systems and propulsion means cooperating to define a center of gravity and a neutral point having a spaced relationship to one another effective to maintain stable flight, said secondary wing system having an average positive lift per unit area greater than the average positive lift per unit area of said primary wing system, said secondary wing system being mounted forwardly of said primary wing system, said secondary wing system including a pair of wing elements pivotally movable fore and aft relative to said fuselage between a retracted position swept aft to define a sweep angle bearing an acute angular relationship to the latter and an extended forwardly swept position in which said sweep angle is substantially increased, said primary wing system including at least one pair of fixed primary wing elements, said secondary wing elements and said one pair of primary wing elements both having a positive net lift;
- area-increasing means operatively associated with said one pair of primary wing elements located aft of said center of gravity, said area-increasing means being effective upon independent actuation to vary said spaced relationship between said center of gravity and neutral point;
- and control means operatively interconnecting said area-increasing means in all operative positions of the latter so as to simultaneously vary the sweep angel of said secondary wing elements and coordinate movement thereof with that of said area-increasing means to the extent required to at least substantially maintain said predetermined spaced relationship.
A tandem-winged aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- primary and secondary wing systems attached to said fuselage for supplying positive lift thereto, said secondary wing system having an average positive lift per unit area greater than the average positive lift per unit area of said primary wing system, said secondary wing system being mounted forwardly of said primary wing system and including a pair of wing elements devoid of area-increasing flaps pivotally movable fore and aft relative to said fuselage between a retracted position swept aft to define a sweep angle bearing an acute angular relationship to the latter and an extended forwardly swept position in which said sweep angle is substantially increased, and said primary wing system including a pair of fixed wing elements having leading and trailing edges;
- area-increasing flap means depending from the trailing edge of each of the fixed wing elements of the primary wing system for movement relative thereto between a retracted position and an extended position, said area-increasing flap means being so designed and located as to produce a pitching moment upon extension thereof, and said secondary wing system elements having an extended position effective to counteract said pitching moment generated in each extended position of said area-increasing flap means;
- and, control means operatively interconnecting the area-increasing flap means and secondary wing system elements in all positions of the latter effective to simultaneously vary the sweep angle of said secondary wing system elements and coordinate movement thereof with that of said area-increasing flap means to the extent required to maintain a stable flight regime.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.