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US 6,601,801 B1Granted
Gapped trailing-edge control surface for an airfoil
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsClayton A. Prow, Seiya Sakurai, Stephen L. Wells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airfoil assembly, such as a wing or horizontal stabilizer, has a gapped trailing-edge control surface and a door connected to the control surface by a linkage such that deflection of the control surface in one direction causes the door to pivot, thus opening an air flow slot for air to flow through. The air flow slot begins to open immediately with deflection of the control surface from its nominal position, thus establishing a desirable level of air flow to suppress separation on the control surface. The linkage connecting the control surface to the door is free of rolling or sliding elements, consisting exclusively of members pivotally connected to one another.
Claims25
An airfoil assembly comprising:
- a fixed airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and having opposite first and second aerodynamic surfaces;
- a movable control surface connected to the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil, the control surface being rotatable about a pivot relative to the fixed airfoil, the control surface being spaced rearwardly from the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil such that an air flow slot is defined between the fixed airfoil and the control surface for air flow from the first aerodynamic surface to the second aerodynamic surface;
- a movable door connected to the fixed airfoil proximate the first aerodynamic surface thereof, the door having a forward edge and an aft edge that respectively form substantial seals with the airfoil and the control surface when the control surface is in a neutral position so as to close off the air flow slot;
- and
- a linkage connecting the door to the control surface, the linkage being structured and arranged such that when the control surface is pivoted in a first direction to move the trailing edge of the control surface generally toward the first aerodynamic surface, the door is caused to rotate about a pivot spaced from the aft and forward edges of the door in such a manner that openings for air flow through the air flow slot are created between the aft edge of the door and the control surface and between the forward edge of the door and the airfoil.
2 more elements
An airfoil assembly comprising:
- a fixed airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and having opposite first and second aerodynamic surfaces;
- a movable control surface connected to the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil, the control surface being rotatable about a fixed pivot located within an external aerodynamic contour of the airfoil assembly, the control surface being spaced rearwardly from the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil such that an airflow slot is defined between the fixed airfoil and the control surface for airflow from the first aerodynamic surface to the second aerodynamic surface;
- a movable door connected to the fixed airfoil proximate the first aerodynamic surface thereof, the door having a forward edge and an aft edge that respectively form substantial seals with the airfoil and the control surface when the control surface is in a neutral position so as to close off the airflow slot;
- and
- a linkage connecting the door to the control surface, the linkage being structured and arranged such that when the control surface is pivoted in a first direction to move the trailing edge of the control surface generally toward the first aerodynamic surface, the door is moved such that the forward edge of the door is moved generally toward the second aerodynamic surface within the external aerodynamic contour of the airfoil assembly so as to open the airflow slot, wherein the linkage is free of rolling and sliding joints, comprising members connected together by pivot joints.
2 more elements
The airfoil assembly comprising:
- a fixed airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and having opposite first and second aerodynamic surfaces;
- a movable control surface connected to the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil, the control surface being rotatable about a fixed pivot located within an external aerodynamic contour of the airfoil assembly, the control surface being spaced rearwardly from the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil such that an airflow slot is defined between the fixed airfoil and the control surface for airflow from the first aerodynamic surface to the second aerodynamic surface;
- a movable door connected to the fixed airfoil proximate the first aerodynamic surface thereof, the door having a forward edge and an aft edge that respectively form substantial seals with the airfoil and the control surface when the control surface is in a neutral position so as to close off the airflow slot;
- and
- a linkage connecting the door to the control surface, the linkage being structured and arranged such that when the control surface is pivoted in a first direction to move the trailing edge of the control surface generally toward the first aerodynamic surface, the door is moved so as to open the airflow slot, wherein the linkage is free of rolling and sliding joints, comprising members connected together by pivot joints, and wherein the linkage includes a door control arm arranged to rotate along with the control surface about the pivot thereof, the door control arm being connected to a crank to which the door is attached, the crank being pivotal about a fixed pivot.
2 more elements
An airfoil assembly, comprising:
- a fixed airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and having opposite first and second aerodynamic surfaces;
- a movable control surface connected to the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil, the control surface being rotatable about a fixed pivot axis located within an external aerodynamic contour of the airfoil assembly, a leading edge of the control surface being spaced rearwardly from the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil such that an air flow slot is defined between the fixed airfoil and the control surface for air flow from the first aerodynamic surface to the second aerodynamic surface;
- a movable door connected to the fixed airfoil proximate the first aerodynamic surface thereof, the door having a forward edge and an aft edge that respectively form substantial seals with the airfoil and the control surface when the control surface is in a neutral position so as to close off the air flow slot;
- and
- a linkage connecting the door to the control surface, the linkage comprising:
- a crank arranged to pivot about a fixed pivot spaced forward of the leading edge of the control surface, an end of the crank being connected to the door such that rotation of the crank about the fixed pivot causes the door to rotate about the fixed pivot;
- a drive link having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally connected to the crank;
- and
- a door control arm rigidly attached to the control surface, the door control arm being held in a fixed pivot such that the door control arm pivots with the control surface about the fixed pivot axis, an end of the door control arm being spaced forward of the fixed pivot for the crank when the control surface is in the neutral position, and the end of the door control arm being pivotally connected to the second end of the drive link, whereby rotation of the control surface in a first direction causes the linkage to move the door to open the air flow slot.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.