Scalloped wing leading edge
OwnerPhilip Watts, Frank E. Fishinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus to modify a wing to provide increased lift over drag ratios compared to similar wings with straight leading edges. For wings extending in a lateral direction, and defining a longitudinal upstream direction, the apparatus forms a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction. The apparatus forms a plurality of protrusions spaced laterally along the leading edge, the protrusions creating a smoothly varying, alternately forward-and-aft sweep along the leading edge relative to the upstream flow direction along the leading edge.
Claims29
An apparatus, comprising a laterally extending wing with an upper and a lower camber, the wing defining a longitudinal upstream direction, a chord at any given lateral location, and a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction, the upper and lower camber each having a point of maximum height with respect to the chord at any given lateral location along the wing, wherein:
- laterally along the wing, the leading edge smoothly varies sweep in alternately forward and aft directions to define forward-extending leading edge protrusions with longitudinal peaks and troughs;
- and
- laterally along the wing, the height of the upper camber at its point of maximum height with respect to the chord does not alternately increase and decrease in size corresponding with the protrusion peaks and troughs.
An apparatus, comprising a laterally extending wing with an upper and a lower camber, the wing defining a longitudinal upstream direction, a chord at any given lateral location, and a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction, the upper and lower camber each having a point of maximum height with respect to the chord at any given lateral location along the wing, wherein:
- the leading edge includes a means for causing longitudinal fluid flow to smoothly vary in alternate directions along the leading edge such that stagnation occurs only at selected points along the leading edge where the direction of the longitudinal fluid flow changes;
- and
- laterally along the wing, the height of the upper camber at its point of maximum height with respect to the chord does not alternately increase and decrease in size corresponding with the protrusion peaks and troughs.
An apparatus configured for attachment to a laterally extending wing with an upper and a lower camber, the wing defining a longitudinal upstream direction, a chord at any given lateral location, and a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction, the upper and lower camber each having a point of maximum height with respect to the chord at any given lateral location along the wing, comprising:
- a wing-extension configured to be received over the leading edge of the wing such that it forms a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction;
- wherein laterally along the wing, the wing-extension leading edge smoothly varies sweep in alternately forward and aft directions to define forward-extending leading edge protrusions with longitudinal peaks and troughs;
- and
- wherein laterally along the wing, the wing-extension does not extend back along the upper camber past the point of upper camber maximum height with respect to the chord.
A method of configuring a wing to exhibit an increased lift over drag performance, wherein the wing is laterally extending with an upper and a lower camber, and the wing defines a longitudinal upstream direction, a chord at any given lateral location, and a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction, the upper and lower camber each having a point of maximum height with respect to the chord at any given lateral location along the wing, comprising:
- mounting a leading edge wing-extension over the leading edge of the wing such that it forms a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction;
- wherein laterally along the wing, the wing-extension leading edge smoothly varies sweep in alternately forward and aft directions to define forward-extending leading edge protrusions with longitudinal peaks and troughs;
- and
- wherein laterally along the wing, the wing-extension does not extend back along the upper camber past the point of upper camber maximum height with respect to the chord.
An aircraft comprising a laterally extending wing with an upper and a lower camber, the wing defining a longitudinal upstream direction, a chord at any given lateral location, and a laterally extending leading edge facing in the upstream direction, the upper and lower camber each having a point of maximum height with respect to the chord at any given lateral location along the wing, wherein:
- laterally along the wing, the leading edge smoothly varies sweep in alternately forward and aft directions to define forward-extending leading edge protrusions with longitudinal peaks and troughs;
- and
- laterally along the wing, the height of the upper camber at its point of maximum height with respect to the chord does not alternately increase and decrease in size corresponding with the protrusion peaks and troughs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.