Reinforced cover for cut-outs in an aeordynamic contour

Abstract

Reinforced cover for cut-outs in an aerodynamic contour of a vehicle, with a first attachment section 1a attachable to a structural element (2,5) of the vehicle (11); a second elastic section 1c which covers the cut-out (4) which is located between a fixed part 5 and a moving part (6, 12) of the vehicle (11), and provided with a low-friction layer (8) on its inner surface (1e), which comprises a first area (1i) in a rectangular configuration and a second area (1j) with a second cross-section smaller than that of the first area (1i); an outer surface (1k) with a fiberglass layer (7a); a main internal body (9) of a flexible material, a transition section (1g) thickened between the first and the second section, (1a, 1c); flushing the outer surface (1k) of the second section (1c) with the outer surface (5a).

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application claims priority from Spanish Application Serial No. 200403162, filed on Dec. 31, 2004. Applicants claim priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 as to said Spanish application, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHINCAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention pertains to the field of the covers used for covering recesses, hollows and / or cut-outs which affect the aerodynamic properties of outer surfaces of vehicles such as aircraft and high-speed trains. This invention is particularly encompassed within the sector of the covers used for covering cut-outs located between the surface of a moving element and the surface of a fixed element on such a vehicle. PRIOR ART TO THE INVENTION [0003] On high-speed vehicles such as aircraft and high-speed trains, there are moving elements articulated to fixed elements, between which there are cut-outs in the aerodynamic contour, located in the ar...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

On high-speed vehicles such as aircraft and high-speed trains, there are moving elements articulated to fixed elements, between which there are cut-outs in the aerodynamic contour, located in the areas in which a surface is attached to a primary adjacent structure which negatively affect the aerodynamic contour of the vehicle.

The sealing of these cut-outs, which may be large in size, is necessary for the purpose of reducing the structural or parasitic drag of the vehicle and so as not to affect the aerodynamic efficiency of the surface, given that the dimensions of such cut-outs may generate unanticipated behaviors in the flow of air circulating around the vehicle.

This problem is especially important for aircraft.

On returning to the cruising position, these cut-outs remain open outward, thus giving rise to aerodynamic problems consisting, on one hand, in the possibility of unanticipated behaviors of the vehicle and, on the other, in larger fuel consumption.

As the internal (non-aerodynamic) elements is exposed, the air current may be deflected, which may give rise to the aforementioned unanticipated behaviors in the airflow.

Although these se

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