초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for controlling airflow with a gapped trailing edge device having a flexible flow surface. The airfoil can include a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface, and a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface. The airfoil can further

A method and apparatus for controlling airflow with a gapped trailing edge device having a flexible flow surface. The airfoil can include a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface, and a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface. The airfoil can further include a second portion having a second leading edge and a trailing edge, with at least part of the second portion being positioned aft of the first portion. The second portion is moveable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, with the second leading edge separated from at least part of the first portion by an airflow gap when the second portion is in the second position. The second portion includes a flexible flow surface that has a first shape when the second portion is in the first position, and has a second shape different than the first shape when the second portion is in the second position.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An airfoil assembly, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface, a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface, and a hinge support; a second portion having a trailing edge body, a leading edge body, a second leading edge and a tr

We claim: 1. An airfoil assembly, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface, a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface, and a hinge support; a second portion having a trailing edge body, a leading edge body, a second leading edge and a trailing edge, at least part of the second leading edge being positioned aft of the first leading edge, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge is separated from at least part of the first portion by an airflow gap when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein the second portion includes a flexible flow surface adjacent to the airflow gap and connected to the leading edge body, the flexible flow surface having a first shape when the second portion is in the first position, the flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the second portion is in the second position; and a guide structure including a first pivot joint between the trailing edge body and the hinge support, a second pivot joint between the trailing edge body and the leading edge body, and a coupling link pivotably coupled between the hinge support and the leading edge body, wherein at least one pivot joint of the guide structure is coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and located at least approximately at or within a flow contour of the first and second portions. 2. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the guide structure includes a four-bar linkage arrangement. 3. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the guide structure includes a roller and slot arrangement. 4. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a third surface facing opposite from the flexible flow surface, and wherein the first, second, third and flexible flow surfaces define a flow contour. 5. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the guide structure includes a first pivot joint between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the guide structure further includes a coupling link pivotably coupled between the first portion and the second portion at second and third pivot joints. 6. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a leading edge body attached to the flexible flow surface, and wherein the guide structure includes a pivot joint between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the guide structure further includes a coupling link pivotably coupled between the first portion and the leading edge body. 7. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion deflects downwardly relative to the first portion when the second portion is in the second position. 8. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion deflects downwardly relative to the first portion when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein the second portion is movable to a third position with the second portion deflected upwardly relative to the first portion. 9. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion at least partially seals the gap when the second portion is in the first position. 10. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the flexible flow surface forms a generally continuous first contour with the first surface of the first portion when the second portion is in the first position, and wherein the second portion further includes a third surface facing opposite from the flexible flow surface, the third surface forming a generally continuous second contour with the second surface of the first portion when the second portion is in the second position, further wherein the third surface has a forward section and an aft section, the forward and aft sections forming a generally continuous third contour when the second portion is in the first position, the forward and aft sections being spaced apart from each other when the second portion is in the second position. 11. The airfoil of claim 1, further comprising an actuator coupled between the first portion and the second portion, the actuator being positioned to selectively move the second portion between the first and second positions. 12. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion is configured to operate as at least one of a flap, an aileron, an elevator, a speed brake, and a spoiler. 13. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the first portion includes a primary lifting surface for an aircraft. 14. An airfoil, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface and a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface, and a plurality of second portions positioned aft the first leading edge, each second portion having a second leading edge positioned aft of the first leading edge, each second portion further having a trailing edge and being movable relative to the first portion between a firstr position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge of each second portion is separated from the first portion of the airfoil by a gap when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein each second portion includes a flexible flow surface, each flexible flow surface having a first shape when a corresponding one of the second portions is in the first position, each flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the corresponding second portion is in the second position; and a plurality of guide structures, with each guide structure having at least one pivot joint between the first portion and a corresponding one of the second portions, and located at least approximately at or with a flow contour of the first portion and the corresponding one of the second portions, wherein at least one of the plurality of guide structures includes a four-bar linkage arrangement. 15. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein each of the second portions is movable relative to the first portion independently of the other second portions. 16. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein at least one of the plurality of guide structures includes a roller and slot arrangement. 17. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein at least one of the plurality of guide structures includes a first pivot joint between the first portion and a corresponding one of the second portions, and wherein the at least one guide structure further includes a coupling link pivotably coupled between the first portion and the corresponding second portion at second and third pivot joints. 18. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein the first portion includes at least one hinge support, and wherein at least one of the second portions includes a trailing edge body and a leading edge body, the leading edge body being connected to one of the flexible flow surfaces, wherein at least one of the guide structures includes a first pivot joint between the trailing edge body and the leading edge body, and a coupling link pivotably coupled between the at least one hinge support and the leading edge body. 19. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein at least one of the second portions deflects downwardly relative to the first portion when the at least one second portion is in the second position. 20. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein at least one of the second portions deflects downwardly relative to the first portion when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein the at least one second portion is movable to a third position with the at least one second portion deflected upwardly relative to the first portion. 21. The airfoil of claim 14 wherein at least one of the second portions at least partially seals the gap when the at least one second portion is in the first position. 22. The airfoil of claim 14, further comprising an actuator coupled between the first portion and at least one of the second portions, the actuator being positioned to selectively move the at least one second portion between the first and second portions. 23. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the flexible flow surface is positioned to seal against the first portion when the second portion is in the first position. 24. The airfoil of claim 1 wherein the second portion pivots relative to the first portion about an axis that passes through the pivot through the pivot joint and is fixed relative to the first and second portions. 25. An airfoil assembly, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface and a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface; a second portion having a second leading edge and a trailing edge, at least part of the second leading edge being positioned aft of the first leading edge, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge is separated from at least part of the first portion by an airflow gap when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein the second portion includes a flexible flow surface adjacent to the airflow gap, the flexible flow surface having a first shape when the second portion is in the first position, the flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the second portion is in the second position; and a guide structure including at least one pivot joint coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and located at least approximately at or within a flow contour of the first and second portions, wherein the guide structure includes a four-bar linkage arrangement. 26. An airfoil assembly, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface and a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface; a second portion having a second leading edge and a trailing edge, at least part of the second leading edge being positioned aft of the first leading edge, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge is separated from at least part of the first portion by an airflow gap when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein the second portion includes a flexible flow surface adjacent to the airflow gap, the flexible flow surface having a first shape when the second portion is in the first position, the flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the second portion is in the second position; and a guide structure including at least one pivot joint coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and located at least approximately at or within a flow contour of the first and second portions, wherein the guide structure includes a roller and slot arrangement. 27. An airfoil, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface and a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface; and a plurality of second portions positioned aft the first leading edge, each second portion having a second leading edge positioned aft of the first leading edge, each second portion further having a trailing edge and being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge of each second portion is separated from the first portion of the airfoil by a gap when the second portion is in the position, and wherein each second portion includes a flexible flow surface, each flexible flow surface having a first shape when a corresponding one of the second portions is in the first position, each flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the corresponding second portion is in the second position; and a plurality of guide structures, with each guide structure having at least one pivot joint between the first portion and a corresponding one of the second portions, and located at least approximately at or with a flow contour of the first portion and the corresponding one of the second portions, wherein at least one of the plurality of guide structures includes a roller and slot arrangement. 28. An airfoil, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface and a second flow surface facing opposite form the first flow surface; and a plurality of second portions positioned aft the first leading edge, each second portion having a second leading edge positioned aft of the first leading edge, each second portion further having a trailing edge and being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge of each second portion is separated from the first portion of the airfoil by a gap when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein each second portion includes a flexible flow surface, each flexible flow surface having a first shape when a corresponding one of the seconds portion is in the first position, each flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the corresponding second portion is in the second position; and a plurality of guide structures, with each guide structure having at least one pivot joint between the first portion and a corresponding one of the second portions, and located at least approximately at or with a flow contour of the first portion and the corresponding one of the second portions, wherein at least one of the plurality of guide structures includes a first pivot joint between the first portion and a corresponding one of the second portions, and wherein the at least one guide structure further includes a coupling link pivotably coupled between the first portion and the corresponding second portion at second and third pivot joints.