초록 ▼

An elastically expandable hollow displacement element is secured to the rear surface of an aircraft wing slat. When the displacement element is contracted, the slat may be retracted onto the wing's leading edge. When the slat is extended, the displacement element is expanded to protrude convexly fro

An elastically expandable hollow displacement element is secured to the rear surface of an aircraft wing slat. When the displacement element is contracted, the slat may be retracted onto the wing's leading edge. When the slat is extended, the displacement element is expanded to protrude convexly from the slat, thereby preventing vortex formation in the slat air gap and reducing aero-acoustic noise. A pressure control system for inflating and deflating the displacement element includes a bleed air line connected from the aircraft engine bleed air system to the displacement element, a shut-off valve and a pressure control valve interposed in series in the bleed air line, and a slat contour controller connected by respective signal lines to the valves, which control the quantity and the pressure of the bleed air supplied into the displacement element, for properly inflating the same.

대표청구항 ▼

An elastically expandable hollow displacement element is secured to the rear surface of an aircraft wing slat. When the displacement element is contracted, the slat may be retracted onto the wing's leading edge. When the slat is extended, the displacement element is expanded to protrude convexly fro

An elastically expandable hollow displacement element is secured to the rear surface of an aircraft wing slat. When the displacement element is contracted, the slat may be retracted onto the wing's leading edge. When the slat is extended, the displacement element is expanded to protrude convexly from the slat, thereby preventing vortex formation in the slat air gap and reducing aero-acoustic noise. A pressure control system for inflating and deflating the displacement element includes a bleed air line connected from the aircraft engine bleed air system to the displacement element, a shut-off valve and a pressure control valve interposed in series in the bleed air line, and a slat contour controller connected by respective signal lines to the valves, which control the quantity and the pressure of the bleed air supplied into the displacement element, for properly inflating the same. [US_PATENT]US-3169725, 19650200, Berglund, 244/155.R; US-3348352, 19671000, Cummings, 244/001.R; US-4113206, 19780900, Wheeler, 244/125; US-4395004, 19830700, Ganssle et al., 244/158.R; US-4575029, 19860300, Hartwood et al., 244/172; US-4633566, 19870100, Coppa, 244/158.R; US-4715566, 19871200, Nobles, 244/159; US-4872625, 19891000, Filley, 244/159; US-5044579, 19910900, Bernasconi et al., 244/158.R; US-5052640, 19911000, Chang, 136/292; US-5086999, 19920200, Mullen, 244/159; US-5386953, 19950200, Stuart, 244/158.R; US-5743786, 19980400, Lindsey, 446/221; US-5803402, 19980900, Krumweide, 224/158.R; US-6076770, 20000600, Nygren et al., 244/158.R; US-6206328, 20010300, Taylor, 244/158.R; US-6231010, 20010500, Schneider et al., 244/159; US-6293500, 20010900, Bigelow, 244/158.R; US-6318674, 20011100, Simburger, 244/158.R ached to each housing. 21. A satellite assembly, comprising: at least three housing containing a payload; and a plurality of inflatable tubular members each having a first end and a second end and coplanar with the housings, the first end of each inflatable member being operably connected to one of the housings and the second end of each inflatable member being operably connected to another of the housings, a plurality of protrusions extending from each a periphery of each housing, the protrusions being operable to couple the housings and the tubular members, wherein the ends of said inflatable members are clamped in a sealed relationship to said protrusions. 22. The satellite assembly accordings to claim 21, wherein the housings are flat. 23. The satellite assembly according to claim 21, wherein a number of protrusions extending from each housing is equal to a number of tubular members coupled to each housing.