IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0491951
(1982-12-30)
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국제출원번호 |
PCT/US82/01822
(1982-12-30)
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§371/§102 date |
[Act 371]19821230
([Act 101]19821230)
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국제공개번호 |
WO84/02691
(1984-07-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Christensen, O'Connor, Johnson & Kindness
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
44 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
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A variable-camber airfoil includes a four-bar linkage camber altering mechanism and a flexible panel in the lower skin of the airfoil. A flexible upper skin extends from the upper end of a front spar assembly to the upper end of a nose structure of the airfoil. A rotary actuator is mounted forward o
A variable-camber airfoil includes a four-bar linkage camber altering mechanism and a flexible panel in the lower skin of the airfoil. A flexible upper skin extends from the upper end of a front spar assembly to the upper end of a nose structure of the airfoil. A rotary actuator is mounted forward of the front spar assembly within the cavity of the airfoil, and is used to actuate the camber altering mechanism. A main drive arm, which acts as a link in the camber altering mechanism, extends forwardly from the rotary actuator. To actuate the camber altering mechanism, the main drive arm is rotated downwardly and rearwardly through an arcuate path in a vertical chordwise plane. The main drive arm pulls downwardly on first and second links, which, due to the kinematics of the four-bar linkage, causes the nose structure to rotate and move downwardly and rearwardly in a manner that will produce the desired aerodynamic curvature in the flexible upper skin. As the airfoil is cambered, a forward portion of the lower skin of the airfoil is moved slidingly past the forward edge of a lower skin flexible panel in an upward and rearward direction,causing the forward edge of the panel to flex downwardly.
대표청구항
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1. A variable-chamber airfoil having a span and a chord, comprising: a front spar assembly, said front spar assembly extending spanwise through said airfoil and being affixed to said airfoil; a nose structure, said nose structure including the leading edge of said airfoil; an upper panel, said
1. A variable-chamber airfoil having a span and a chord, comprising: a front spar assembly, said front spar assembly extending spanwise through said airfoil and being affixed to said airfoil; a nose structure, said nose structure including the leading edge of said airfoil; an upper panel, said upper panel extending from adjacent said front spar assembly to adjacent said nose structure, said upper panel being flexible in a chordwise direction and forming a continuous upper aerodynamic surface of said airfoil between said front spar assembly and said nose structure, said nose structure and said upper panel being movable between a first position wherein said upper panel has a minimum curvature and a second position wherein said upper panel has a maximum curvature; linkage means for swingably moving said nose structure downwardly and rearwardly from said first position to said second position; and a lower aerodynamic surface, said lower aerodynamic surface extending from said front spar assembly to said nose structure, said lower aerodynamic surface including a rigid panel and a flexible panel, said rigid panel being affixed to said nose structure and movable therewith, a pivot mounted on the inner surface of said flexible panel, said flexible panel being pivotally mounted to said front spar assembly, said flexible panel having forward and rear ends that are biased upwardly, said pivot that is mounted on said inner surface of said flexible panel being mounted forward of the midpoint between said forward and rear ends of said flexible panel, said rigid panel movement being controlled by the linkage mechanism to remain in sliding contact with said forward end of said flexible panel when said nose structure moves between said first and second positions. 2. The variable-chamber airfoil of claim 1, further comprising actuator means for actuating said linkage means. 3. The variable-chamber airfoil of claim 1 wherein said linkage means includes: a main drive arm, said main drive arm being attached to said actuator means and having a forwardmost end; a first link, said first link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first link being pivotally connected to said nose structure, said second end of said first link being pivotally connected to said forwardmost end of said main drive arm; a second link, said second link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second link being pivotally connected to said nose structure, said second end of said second link being pivotally connected to said main drive arm at a point intermediate said forwardmost end and said actuator means; a stablizing link, said stabilizing link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said stabilizing link being pivotally connected to said second link intermediate said first and said second ends of said second link, said second end of said stabilizing link being pivotally connected to said front spar assembly; and, a panel support link, said panel support link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said panel support link being pivotally connected to the inner surface of said upper skin panel, said second end of said panel support link being pivotally connected to said stabilizing link. 4. A variable-chamber airfoil having a span and a chord comprising: a front spar assembly, said front spar assembly extending spanwise relative to said airfoil; a leading edge nose structure, said nose structure extending spanwise relative to said airfoil; an upper panel, said upper panel extending from adjacent said front spar assembly to abut said nose structure, said upper panel being flexible in a chordwise direction and forming a continuous upper aerodynamic surface of said airfoil between said front spar assembly and said nose structure, said nose structure and said upper panel being movable between a first position wherein said upper panel has a minimum curvature and a second position wherein said upper panel has a maximum curvature; linkage means operably associated with said airfoil for swingably moving said nose structure downwardly and rearwardly from said first position to said second position, said linkage means including support link means for supporting said upper panel and for controlling the curvature of said upper panel as said panel moves from said first position to said second position; a lower aerodynamic surface extending from said front spar assembly to said nose structure, said lower aerodynamic surface including a rigid panel and a flexible panel, said flexible panel having forward and rear ends that are biased upwardly, said flexible panel being positioned to abut said rigid panel when the upper panel is in said first position, said rigid panel being movable in slidable contact with said flexible panel as said upper panel moves from said first position to said second position; and a pivot affixed to said flexible panel at a point located forward of the midpoint between said forward and rear ends of said flexible panel, said flexible panel being pivotally mounted to said front spar assembly. 5. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 4, further comprising actuator means for actuating said linkage means. 6. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 5, wherein said linkage means includes: a main drive arm, said main drive arm being attached to said actuator means and having a forwardmost end; a first link, said first link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first link being pivotally connected to said nose structure, said second end of said first link being pivotally connected to said forwardmost end of said main drive arm; a second link, said second link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second link being pivotally connected to said nose structure, said second end of said second link being pivotally connected to said main drive arm at a point intermediate said forwardmost end and said actuator means; a stabilizing link, said stabilizing link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said stabilizing link being pivotally connected to said second link intermediate said first and said second ends of said second link, said second end of said stabilizing link being pivotally connected to said front spar assembly; and, said support link means including a panel support link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said panel support link being pivotally connected to the inner surface of said upper skin panel, said second end of said panel support link being pivotally connected to said stabilizing link. 7. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 6, further comprising: first seal means mounted to said nose structure for providing a seal between said nose structure and said forward edge of said flexible panel when said nose structure is in said first position. 8. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 7, further comprising: second seal means mounted to said front spar assembly for providing a seal between said front spar assembly and said rear edge of said flexible panel. 9. A variable-camber airfoil comprising: a front spar assembly, said front spar assembly extending spanwise through said airfoil, said front spar assembly including a front spar and a support member affixed to said front spar and extending forwardly therefrom, said support member including an upper mounting arm adjacent said upper end of said support member and extending forwardly therefrom and having a forwardmost end, said support member including a lower mounting arm adjacent said lower end of said support member and extending forwardly therefrom and having a forwardmost end; a nose structure, said nose structure being movable between a first position wherein said airfoil has minimum camber and a second position wherein said airfoil has maximum camber, said nose structure including a nose spar extending spanwise through said airfoil, said nose spar haing an upper end and a lower end, said nose structure having a fitting projecting rearwardly in the chordwise direction from said nose spar, said fitting having an upper portion with a rearmost end and a support rib, said nose structure including a nose rib extending forwardly in the chordwise direction from said nose spar; an upper panel, said upper panel being flexible and having a forward edge, a rear edge, and an inner surface, said upper panel extending from said front spar assembly to said nose structure, said rear edge of said upper panel abutting said upper end of said support member, said forward edge abutting said upper end of said nose spar; a rotary actuator, said rotary actuator being mounted to said support member; camber altering means for moving said nose structure through an arcuate path in a vertical chordwise plane and for altering the curvature of said upper panel, said camber altering means including: a main drive arm, said main drive arm extending forwardly from said rotary actuator and having a forwardmost end, said main drive arm being rotatable through an arcuate path in a vertical chordwise plane, a first link, said first link having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said first link being pivotally connected to said upper portion of said attachment fitting at a point intermediate said rearmost end and said nose spar, said lower end of said first link being pivotally connected to said forwardmost end of said main drive arm, a second link, said second link having an upper and a lower end, said upper end of said second link being pivotally connected to said rearmost end of said upper portion of said fitting, said lower end of said second link being pivotally connected to said main drive arm at a point intermediate said forwardmost end and said rotary actuator, a stabilizing link, said stabilizing link having a forwardmost end and a rearmost end, said forwardmost end being pivotally connected to said second link at a point intermediate said upper and said lower ends of said second link, said rearmost end of said stabilizing link being pivotally connected to said forwardmost end of said upper mounting arm of said front spar assembly, a panel support link, said panel support link having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being pivotally attached to said inner surface of said upper panel, said lower end being pivotally connected to said stabilizing link at a point intermediate said forwardmost and said rearmost ends; and, a lower aerodynamic surface spaced away from said upper skin. 10. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 9 wherein said lower aerodynamic surface includes: a rigid panel having a rear edge and a flexible panel having a forward edge and a rear edge, said rear edge of said rigid panel and said forward edge of said flexible panel being adjacent one another when said nose structure is in said first position, said rigid panel being fastened to said support rib of said fitting, a pivot mounted on the inner surface of said flexible panel, said flexible panel being pivotally mounted to said forwardmost end of said lower mounting arm of said support member, said rigid panel being movable past the forward edge of said flexible panel when said camber altering means moves said nose structure through said arcuate path. 11. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 10, wherein said forward and rear edges of said flexible panel are biased upwardly thereby applying an inwardly directed force at said forward and said rear edges of said flexible panel. 12. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 11, further comprising: first seal means mounted to said nose structure for providing a seal between said rear edge of said rigid panel and said forward edge of said flexible panel when said nose structure is in said first position. 13. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 12, further comprising: second seal means for providing a seal between said rear edge of said flexible panel and said lower mounting arm of said front spar assembly. 14. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 9, wherein said main drive arm has a forked configuration including a first member and a second member that are parallel to one another and spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive said first link. 15. The variable-camber airfoil of claim 10, wherein the pivot on said inner surface of said flexible panel connecting said flexible panel to said forwardmost end of said lower mounting arm is positioned forward of the midpoint between said forward and rear edges of said flexible panel.
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