초록 ▼

A vortex generator for attenuating flow separation which occur during supersonic flow of air over structure such as an aircraft airfoil, its fuselage, surfaces forming a part of a jet propulsion unit, turbine or compressor blades, or similar surfaces subjected to supersonic airflow. A series of vort

A vortex generator for attenuating flow separation which occur during supersonic flow of air over structure such as an aircraft airfoil, its fuselage, surfaces forming a part of a jet propulsion unit, turbine or compressor blades, or similar surfaces subjected to supersonic airflow. A series of vortex generators are provided each of which comprises a cavity in the component over which the supersonic air is flowing that is configured to generate a spiral vortex which attenuates flow separation and weight drag resulting from the supersonic airflow. Each cavity is of generally triangular configuration defined by two side walls which diverge in a direction away from the apex of the triangular cavity, and a flat bottom wall joined to the side walls. In an alternate embodiment, means is provided for selectively shifting the bottom wall from a retracted inner position, to an outer location essentially flush with the surface over which the supersonic airflow is occurring.

대표청구항 ▼

A vortex generator for attenuating flow separation which occurs during supersonic flow of fluid in one direction over the surface of a component from the leading edge of the component toward the trailing edge portion thereof, said vortex generator comprising: structure presenting a cavity in the com

A vortex generator for attenuating flow separation which occurs during supersonic flow of fluid in one direction over the surface of a component from the leading edge of the component toward the trailing edge portion thereof, said vortex generator comprising: structure presenting a cavity in the component located below said surface thereof downstream of said leading edge and upstream of the point on the surface where flow separation would occur without said cavity, said cavity being defined at least in part by elongated side wall means located in disposition with a major transverse axis thereof extending inwardly of the component from said surface and thereby presenting an elongated margin joining the side wall means to said surface of the component, said side wall means further being positioned such that a longitudinal axis thereof and thereby said margin are at an angle with respect to the flow of the fluid in said one direction across said surface of the component; and bottom wall means on the structure, connected to said side wall means, and forming the bottom of the cavity, said angle being sufficient to cause fluid flowing across the surface of the component from the leading edge and over said margin to generate a spiral vortex trailing therefrom which attenuates said flow separation, said cavity being of generally triangular configuration defined at least in part by two of said side wall means, each of said side wall means having a margin which merges with the surface of the component, both of said side wall means being connected to said bottom wall means and diverging from one another as the trailing edge portion of the component is approached to cause diverging spiral vortices to be generated by fluid flowing across the surface of the component from the leading edge and over respective margins of corresponding side wall means, said triangular cavity having an apex portion and an opposed base portion with the apex portion thereof being in closest proximity to the leading edge of the component, the bottom wall means being located to cause the cavity to be of greater depth adjacent the apex portion thereof than at the base portion of the cavity.