Method for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the vertical tail of an aircraft
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorAlain Tanguy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the vertical tail of an aircraft includes varying the thickness of the trailing edge of the rudder as a function of the span of the vertical tail. This variation is intended to adapt the local value of the coefficient of lateral lift applied to the vertical tail closer to a maximum allowable value. The maximum allowable value is specifically the value at which a separation of the aerodynamic flow is observed on the surface of the vertical tail.
Claims8
A method for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of an aircraft vertical tail, comprising a drift and a rudder able to pivot with respect to the drift, the method comprising:
- varying a thickness of a trailing edge of the rudder as a function of a span of the vertical tail, to bring a local value of a coefficient of lateral lift applied to the vertical tail closer to a maximum allowable value, wherein the maximum allowable value of the coefficient of lateral lift is the value beyond which, for a given angle between the rudder and the drift, a separation of the aerodynamic flow is observed on the surface of the vertical tail.
An aircraft vertical tail, comprising:
- a drift and a rudder able to pivot with respect to said drift,
- wherein said rudder has a variable thickness from a trailing edge thereof following a span of the vertical tail, enabling to bring a local value of a coefficient of lateral lift applied to the vertical tail closer to a maximum allowable value, and
- wherein the maximum allowable value of the coefficient of lateral lift is the value beyond which, for a given angle between the rudder and the drift, a separation of the aerodynamic flow is observed on the surface of the vertical tail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.