Abstract:
An aircraft landing flap includes a flap member having an abrasion-resistant coating coated on an abrasion region exposed to mechanical rubbing contacts with an aircraft spoiler. The coating comprises a polyurethane matrix based on aliphatic components and fillers embedded in the polyurethane matrix so as to increase resistance to abrasion.
Abstract:
An axillary airfoil located as far forward as practicable on the fuselage of an airliner. During high speed cruise, the airfoil can be adjusted to provide supplemental lift to move the center of pressure forward, thereby reducing the amount of downforce needed to be produced by the vertical stabilizer. This would result in saving fuel. Spoilers mounted on the airfoils would be programmed to automatically deploy to return the center of pressure rearward whenever flight conditions require greater longitudinal stability.
Abstract:
A process and a device for automatically optimizing on the ground the aerodynamic configuration of an aircraft.The device (1) includes means (7, 8, 10) for determining and applying to the spoilers (6) a command providing the aircraft with an optimum aerodynamic configuration.
Abstract:
A method of diagnosing a speed brake fault, where the method includes receiving a position signal from the at least one position sensor , determining a variation in the position signal relative to a reference position and diagnosing a fault in the speed brake system based on the variation.
Abstract:
A system and method for simulating aerodynamics over an aircraft for a deflected position of a movable aircraft control surface using a structured chimera mesh are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mesh assembly of the aircraft is created by overlapping a background mesh and a structured chimera mesh for the deflected position of the movable aircraft control surface. Further, mesh cell sizes within overlapping boundaries of the background mesh and the structured chimera mesh are analyzed. Furthermore, the structured chimera mesh is regenerated based on the analysis. In addition, the mesh assembly of the aircraft is reformed based on the regenerated structured chimera mesh. Also, a masked mesh of the aircraft is created by auto masking the reformed mesh assembly. Moreover, aerodynamics is simulated over the aircraft for the deflected position of the movable aircraft control surface using the masked mesh.
Abstract:
Deployable aerodynamic devices with reduced actuator loads, and related systems and methods are disclosed. An external flow system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an external flow body, a deployable device carried by and movable relative to the external flow body, and a coupling connected between the external flow body and the deployable device. The system can further include an actuator device operatively coupled between the external flow body and the deployable device, with the actuator device positioned to move the deployable device along a motion path between a stowed position and the deployed position. The motion path can have a first portion over which the load delivered by the actuator device increases as the deployed device moves toward the deployed position, and a second portion over which the load delivered by the actuator device decreases as the deployed device moves toward the deployed position.
Abstract:
A fluid flow modification apparatus for creating turbulence in a moving fluid includes turbulence-creating elements arranged in a fractal configuration, each element having a first surface portion against which the fluid can flow and a second surface portion along which the fluid can flow, and further includes an insert for arrangement to obstruct the flow of fluid between adjacent second surface portions of at least two turbulence-creating elements. A support holds the turbulence-creating elements in the fluid to allow movement of the fluid relative to the turbulence-creating elements and the insert. The insert may be attachable to at least two turbulence-creating elements, such that the arrangement of the inserts is symmetrical about a centre point of the fluid flow field for improved mixing.
Abstract:
An aircraft wing assembly comprising: a wing; a spoiler pivotally attached to the wing; and a spoiler deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism comprises a scissor linkage mechanism comprising an upper link pivotally attached to the spoiler at an upper pivot, and a lower link pivotally attached to the wing at a lower pivot and to the upper link at a central pivot. An actuator is pivotally attached to the wing at a proximal pivot and to the scissor linkage mechanism at a distal pivot. The actuator is adjustable between expanded and contracted configurations so as to vary the distance between the proximal and distal pivots. This opens up the angle between the upper and lower links of the scissor linkage mechanism and pushes the spoiler up into the air-stream above the wing.
Abstract:
Aircraft systems with shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, and associated methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes an airfoil, a deployable device coupled to the airfoil, and a shape memory alloy actuator coupled between the airfoil and the deployable device. In one embodiment, the deployable device can be coupled to the airfoil with a hinge having a hinge load path supporting the deployable device relative to the airfoil, and the actuator can be movable along a motion path different than the hinge load path between a first position with the deployable device deployed relative to the airfoil, and a second position with the deployable device stowed relative to the airfoil. In another embodiment, an activatable link can be positioned between the actuator and the deployable device, and can have an engaged configuration in which motion of the actuator is transmitted to the deployable device, and a disengaged configuration in which motion of the actuator is not transmitted to the deployable device.
Abstract:
A process and device for the automatic flight optimisation of the aerodynamic configuration of an aircraft.The device (1) includes means (7, 8, 10) for determining and applying to the spoilers (6) of the aircraft commands for providing the aircraft with an optimum aerodynamic configuration.