초록 ▼

A cavity in an airframe from which an airfoil is deployed is automatically closed to reduce aerodynamic drag by a fairing element hinged to the force and aft cavity edges and resiliently deformable from an unbent aerodynamic position outside the cavity to a bent position within the cavity. The non-d

A cavity in an airframe from which an airfoil is deployed is automatically closed to reduce aerodynamic drag by a fairing element hinged to the force and aft cavity edges and resiliently deformable from an unbent aerodynamic position outside the cavity to a bent position within the cavity. The non-deployed airfoil overlies the bent fairing element and retains the fairing in a bent position against the resilient force tending to restore it to the unbent position, until airfoil deployment.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for sealing a cavity in an airframe through which an airfoil has been deployed, the skin of the airframe defining fore and aft edges of the cavity relative to the intended direction of motion of the airframe, the apparatus comprising: a fairing element having a longitudinal axis with oppos

Apparatus for sealing a cavity in an airframe through which an airfoil has been deployed, the skin of the airframe defining fore and aft edges of the cavity relative to the intended direction of motion of the airframe, the apparatus comprising: a fairing element having a longitudinal axis with opposed fairing axial ends, said fairing being resilient to bending along said longitudinal axis; means for attaching said fairing axial ends to the cavity fore and aft edges, respectively, said attached fairing element having an unbent state and a bent state, wherein said attached fairing in said unbent state is positioned to provide to the flow of air past the airframe, an aerodynamically shaped transition between the skin portions fore and aft of the cavity, wherein said attached fairing element in said bent state is positioned substantially within said cavity and has a continuous resilient bias toward said unbent position; and means for retaining said fairing member in said bent state against said bias until deployment of the airfoil and then releasing said fairing member for movement to said unbent state.