Adaptive wing for an aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJian Dong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adaptive wing for an aircraft includes a first wing portion, a second wing portion, and a third wing portion. The second wing portion is telescopically attached to the first wing portion to selectively change an overall length of the wing based on real-time flight conditions or airport space constraints. The third wing portion is rotate-ably attached to one end of the second wing portion, and a dihedral angle between the second wing portion and the third wing portion is changeable based on real-time flight conditions or airport space constraints.
Claims13
A wing for an aircraft comprising:
- a first wing portion and a second wing portion, wherein the second wing portion is telescopically attached to the first wing portion, wherein the second wing portion is selectively movable between a first position and a second position to change a length of the wing, and wherein the second wing portion is completely retracted within a cavity in the first wing portion in the first position;
- and
- at least one winglet rotate-ably attached to the second wing portion, wherein the at least one winglet is rotate-able relative to the second wing portion to have a dihedral angle between the at least one winglet and the wing in an adjustable range of 0 degrees to 360 degrees, and wherein the at least one winglet is retracted within the cavity when the second wing portion is in the first position and the at least one winglet is disposed against the second wing portion.
A method of moving a wing of an aircraft during operation of the aircraft comprising:
- telescopically moving a second wing portion from a first position to a second position relative to a first wing portion such that:
- the second wing portion moves from a retracted position in a cavity in the first wing portion to an extended position to selectively increase a length of the wing;
- and
- an at least one rotatable winglet that is rotate-ably attached to the second wing portion moves from a contained position within the cavity to an uncontained position;
- and
- rotating the at least one winglet relative to the second wing portion when the at least one winglet is in the uncontained position, wherein the rotating the at least one winglet relative to the second wing portion further comprises rotating the at least one winglet from one position disposed against and parallel to the second wing portion to another position having a dihedral angle between the at least one winglet and the second wing portion in a range of 0 degrees to 360 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.