Pneumatic control system for aerodynamic surfaces

Abstract

A flight control system for an airfoil comprises a control surface, a chamber connecting the control surface to the airfoil, and a pneumatic mechanism fluidly connected to the chamber. The chamber may be comprised of at least two cells that may be fluidly separated by a membrane. The pneumatic mechanism is configured to provide differential pressure to the cells in order to alternately increase volume/pressure of the cells to cause deflection of the control surface. The cells may have a stretchable outer surface to allow for changes in the length of the outer surface in response to inflation/deflation of the cells. The outer surface of the cells may be substantially continuous with outer mold lines of the airfoil and of the control surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.