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US 8,788,122 B1Granted
Wing load alleviation methods and apparatus
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMithra M. K. V. Sankrithi, Joshua Frommer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wing load alleviation methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example method includes collecting data related to a condition of an aircraft; and when a condition identifier implemented via a logic circuit indicates that the condition comprises a high load condition, automatically generating a plurality of control signals to coordinate a first deflection of a first control surface of a configurable winglet and a second deflection of a second control surface of a wing adjacent to the winglet.
Claims19
A method, comprising:
- collecting first data related to a condition of an aircraft;
- when a condition identifier implemented via a logic circuit indicates that the condition exists, automatically generating a plurality of control signals to coordinate a first deflection of a first control surface and a second deflection of a second control surface;
- and
- collecting second data related to a mode of the aircraft and, when the mode is a non-cruise mode, coordinating a third deflection of the first control surface and a fourth deflection of the second control surface.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a condition identifier to, via a logic circuit, determine a mode of an aircraft;
- and
- a signal generator to respond to the determined mode of the aircraft by conveying signals to actuators of the aircraft, wherein the signal generator is to respond to the mode being a flight condition mode comprising a non-cruise mode by:
- conveying a first signal to a first actuator associated with a first control surface of a wing to cause the first control surface to deflect;
- and
- conveying a second signal to a second actuator associated with a winglet to cause a second control surface of the winglet to deflect.
3 more elements
An aircraft, comprising:
- a winglet having a first control surface, the winglet being mounted to a wing;
- a second control surface;
- a sensor to collect data related to a condition of the aircraft;
- and
- a signal generator to coordinate a deflection of the first control surface of the winglet and a deflection of the second control surface in response to a detection of the condition.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.