초록

The subject invention relates to a new and improved airfoil design. More particularly, an airfoil design is disclosed which improves efficiency by taking advantage of the vortex created at the wing tips.

대표청구항 ▼

An improved wing design for an aircraft, said wing having opposite ends separated from each other in a span-wise direction, with said wing generating trailing vortices at said opposite ends with the vortices turning in opposite spirals, said improvement comprising: a pair of structural airfoils mean

An improved wing design for an aircraft, said wing having opposite ends separated from each other in a span-wise direction, with said wing generating trailing vortices at said opposite ends with the vortices turning in opposite spirals, said improvement comprising: a pair of structural airfoils means on said opposite wing ends, with each said airfoil means having cambered surface area extending in the spiral directions of the vortices and aerodynamically coupled together with increasing dihedral angle in the flow direction, progressive changing angles of attack with respect to the chord of the wing and the leading edge of each of said airfoil means being substantially parallel to the leading edge of its respective wing so that each of said airfoils generates additional lift from the trailing vortex and simultaneously reduces the energy in the trailing vortex.