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US 6,079,672 AGranted
Aileron for fixed wing aircraft
OwnerLawrence Y. Lam, Michael Laminventors
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OwnerLawrence Y. Lam, Michael Laminventors
Estimating the term…
An aircraft aileron system unique in its construction, method of deployment and the functional results obtained, is comprised of two panels located at the rear portion of the wing, in a spanwise direction and aligned with the wing's trailing edge. The panels are independently hinged at their leading edges and rotate to make angular deflections with respect to the wing. The upper, aileron panel is restricted to upward deflection only from its neutral position and in operation is deployed independently as an aileron. The lower, auxiliary flap panel is capable of both upward and downward deflections from its neutral position, and is deployed independently downward as an auxiliary flap. Both panels are deployed together upwardly only as an aileron. Alternatively, the aileron panel may be capable only of upward deployment while the auxiliary flap panel is capable of downward deployment only, to provide a simpler aileron system. For roll control of an aircraft during cruise, the aileron panel on one side only is deflected up while the aileron panel on the other side remains in its neutral position. The aileron system, in conjunction with flap arrangements, offers multiple aircraft control function with advantages over past and present systems for aircraft control.
An aerodynamic control system for control of an aircraft around a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, comprising an aileron assembly disposed on each wing of the aircraft, each aileron assembly having an upper panel and a lower panel each pivotally attached adjacent to the trailing edge of the wing, with the upper surface of the upper panel forming a continuation of the wing's upper surface when the upper panel is in a neutral position and the lower surface of the lower panel forming a continuation of the wing's lower surface when the lower panel is in a neutral position, wherein the upper panel is remotely operable independently of the lower panel and is limited to deflect upwardly only relative to its neutral position, the lower panel is operable to move upwardly and downwardly from its neutral position, and the upper panel and lower panel are operatively related such that both upper and lower panels can be deflected upwardly as a unit, the upward deflection of the upper panel on one wing only being sufficient to effect roll control of the aircraft without adverse yaw motion of the aircraft's nose.
An aileron system for an aircraft to control movement of the aircraft about its longitudinal axis, comprising an aileron panel pivotally supported along a trailing edge of each aircraft wing, wherein said aileron panel is capable only of upward movement from a neutral position at which an upper surface of said aileron panel is substantially flush with an upper surface of the aircraft wing, a second panel pivotally supported along the trailing edge of the aircraft wing, beneath said aileron panel, and having a neutral position at which a lower surface of said second panel forms a continuation of a lower surface of the wing, said aileron panel being remotely operable to move upwardly only relative to its neutral position, independently of said second panel, said second panel being supported to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to its neutral position, and said second panel and said aileron panel being operatively coupled to move upwardly as a unit from their respective neutral positions, whereby to effect roll of the aircraft about its longitudinal axis the aileron panel on one wing only of the aircraft is caused to deflect upwardly and the aileron panel on the wing on the opposite side of the aircraft remains in its neutral position.
In combination with an aircraft having a wing on each side, each wing having a control flap, and first operating means to control the operation of said control flaps, an aileron assembly on each wing which comprises an upper panel and a lower panel, each pivotally supported adjacent to the trailing edge of the wing, said upper panel having a neutral position wherein an upper surface of the upper panel forms a continuation of the wing's upper surface and said lower panel having a neutral position wherein a lower surface of said lower panel forms a continuation of the wing's lower surface, the upper panel being remotely operable to deflect only upwardly relative to its neutral position, independently of said lower panel, said upper panel and said lower panel being operatively related such that both upper and lower panels can be deflected upwardly as a unit, whereby roll control of the aircraft about its longitudinal axis is effected by upward deflection of the upper panel of an aileron assembly on one wing only, while the upper panel of the aileron assembly on the other wing remains in its neutral position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.