Retractable vortex generator for reducing stall speed
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBruce R. Fox, Stephen J. Fox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and methods for low speed performance improvement of a lifting surface assembly are disclosed. At least one vortex generator is coupled to the lifting surface assembly, and the vortex generator is extended through the lifting surface assembly by drooping a hinged leading coupled to the lifting surface assembly to increase lift. The vortex generator is retracted inside the lifting surface assembly to decrease drag.
Claims20
A method for low speed performance improvement of a lifting surface assembly, the method comprising:
- extending a leading edge device of a lifting surface assembly from a nominal position to a deflected position;
- extending at least one vortex generator hingeably coupled to the leading edge device through at least one slot in a surface of the lifting surface assembly;
- retracting the at least one vortex generator under the surface in response to moving the leading edge device to the nominal position;
- and
- covering the at least one vortex generator with the leading edge device in response to moving the leading edge device to the nominal position.
A retractable vortex generator device comprising:
- a leading edge device coupled to a lifting surface;
- an aerodynamic surface coupled to the lifting surface and configured to be covered by the leading edge device when the leading edge device is in a nominal position;
- at least one vortex generator coupled to the lifting surface, the leading edge device or both, and operable to:
- extend through at least one slot in the lifting surface or the aerodynamic surface in response to the leading edge device being drooped;
- and
- retract under the lifting surface or the aerodynamic surface in response to the leading edge device being raised.
A method for operating a lifting surface assembly to provide improved low speed performance, the method comprising:
- causing a fluid to flow over the lifting surface assembly;
- drooping a leading edge device hingeably coupled to the lifting surface assembly from a nominal position to a deflected position;
- exposing a plurality of retractable vortex generators through a plurality of slots in a first surface of the lifting assembly in response to the drooping of the leading edge device, the retractable vortex generators configured to be covered by a trailing edge of the leading edge device when the leading edge device is in the nominal position;
- varying a magnitude of a droop position of the leading edge device;
- retracting the vortex generators through the slots by moving the leading edge device to the nominal position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.