Abstract:
An airfoil (3) comprising a high pressure surface (4); a low pressure surface (5); a leading edge (6) where the high and low pressure surfaces meet at the front of the airfoil; and a trailing edge (7) where the high and low pressure surfaces meet at the back of the airfoil. A porous flow deflector (8) extends from the low pressure surface. The porous flow deflector is attached to the low pressure surface at a position which is closer in a chord-wise sense to the leading edge than to the trailing edge. That is, the percentage chord distance between the leading edge and the position where the flow deflector is attached is less than 50%. The porous flow deflector comprises a plurality of flow deflection members (8) each spaced progressively further from the low pressure surface in a direction away from the low pressure surface, and each flow deflection member is angled down to the rear relative to a local tangent of the low pressure surface. The porous flow deflector deflects air towards the low pressure surface as it passes through the porous flow deflector.
Abstract:
A multi- segment flap fence (106) is incorporated into the wing such that a lower fence structure (202) is attached to the underside of the fixed wing (102), an upper fence structure '(212) is attached to the main flap (108) (e.g., at the outboard end). The two flap segments (202, 212) are configured to slideably articulate with respect to each other when the flap (108) is extended to form a composite flap fence having an area that is substantially equal to the sum of the surface areas of the upper (212) and lower (202) flap fence structures. In one embodiment, the area of the upper fence (212) is less than that of the lower fence (202).
Abstract:
An airfoil for use with an aircraft having an engine positioned such that exhaust from the engine flows under an underside of the airfoil. The airfoil includes an upper surface and a movable control element. The upper surface has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The movable control element is positioned adjacent the trailing edge and is selectively controlled for movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the movable control element does not mix fluid flowing over the top of the airfoil with engine exhaust under the airfoil. In the second position, at least some of the fluid flowing over the top of the airfoil mixes under the airfoil with engine exhaust.
Abstract:
Lift produced by an airfoil of an aircraft is increased by suppressing fluid detachment from the surface of the airfoil. An engine cowling (102) extends outwardly from the surface of the airfoil that has an exit plane (202) configured for directing exhaust gases toward a rear of the aircraft. Fences (106, 107, 108, 109) extending outwardly from the surface and proximate to the exit plane of the engine cowling are configured to guide the exhaust gases along at least a portion of the airfoil surface, thereby restricting spanwise movement of the gases and increasing the Coanda Effect exhibited by the gases, thereby increasing the amount of lift produced along the surface of the airfoil. Such techniques may be used in short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft.
Abstract:
An aircraft motion control mechanism for regulating aircraft motion from a location remote from an aircraft body portion. The aircraft auxiliary control mechanism has at least one control surface support arm connected to and extending from the aircraft body portion, and an auxiliary flow control surface connected to the support arm. By pivotally controlling the movement of the support arm, the auxiliary flow control surface is operative to deflect airflow to regulate orientation of the aircraft. In addition, the auxiliary flow control surface may further deflect the airflow by deflecting about the support arm.
Abstract:
A blended wing body aircraft may include a blended wing configured to house a person, payload and/or cargo within the wing, a surface structure, and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to controllably cause the planar structure to extend downwardly from an underside surface of the wing oriented such that the planar structure forms a sweep angle with the aircraft between -70 and 70 degrees. Substantially each point on the planar structure may be behind a leading edge of the wing and in front of a trailing edge of the wing by at least 5% of the length of the chord of the wing that passes through the point. The actuator may be configured to controllably cause the planar structure to extend downwardly from an underside surface of the wing with an orientation that causes an increase in static pressure ahead of the hinge line of the planar structure and a decrease aft of the hinge line during forward movement of the aircraft, as compared to when the planar structure is not extended. Deployment of all planar structures may increase the aircraft's control pitching moment and/or lift by more than 5 percent as compared to when they are not deployed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing drag of an aircraft utilized in combination with an aircraft surface (12), where the local airflow has an upward momentum due to the free air stream being deflected upward by the aircraft surface. The apparatus comprises an ancillary airfoil (1) having a cambered top surface (10), a leading edge (14) and a trailing edge (17) and a generally concave louver surface (9); mounting members for mounting the ancillary airfoil above the aircraft surface (12) in a spaced apart manner and at a positive angle of attack with respect to the local airflow (3); and an expansion chamber (11) formed between the lower surface (9) of the ancillary airfoil and the aircraft surface (12). The expansion chamber (11) is located where a distance (13) between the louver surface of the ancillary airfoil and the aircraft surface gradually increases.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an aerodynamic surface (1) such as a wing, empennage, angle of drift, nacelle pylon etc. for an aircraft. According to the invention, said aerodynamic surface (1) comprises at least one lightening hole (7) pertaining to the trailing edge of the underwing; at least one hinged baffle (8) that can be mounted in the lightening hole (7) of the underwing, whereby the chord thereof is equal to a several hundredths of the chord (C) of the aerodynamic surface (1); and means for actuating the moveable baffle (8) so that it can rotate around the hinge line (9).
Abstract:
A deployable flow control device for a flow surface (10) over which fluid having a fluid boundary layer flows which fluid boundary layer exhibits certain dynamics is disclosed. The deployable flow control device comprises a flow effector (20) which is movably attached to a housing (12) which is attachable, either initially or retrofitably, to a flow surface (10). The flow effector (20) is deployed into and retracted out of the boundary layer on the flow surface (10) and thereby controls the boundary dynamics. Devices (including devices utilizing a sealable, flexible element (60)) operably connect to the flow effector (20) and deploy and retract it. The sealable, flexible element (60) has two elastic states defined as quiescent and deformed such that, when the sealable, flexible element (60) is utilized, the flow effector (20) is deployed into and retracted out of the fluid boundary layer based upon the elastic state of the sealable, flexible element (60).