Deflection device for a stream body

Abstract

The present application describes to a deflection device, for example, for a blunt stream body. The deflection device has an edge, which, for example, can be mounted to the stream body. In an advantageous manner, the deflection device allows an influencing of the slipstream in such a way that turbulences, which are connected with the slipstream and form downstream of blunt stream bodies, have as little influence as possible on the dragged object in order to avoid the formation of building-up motions of the dragged object, which lead to instabilities.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 588,612 filed Jul. 16, 2004, and of the German Patent Application No. 10 2004 034 367.5 filed Jul. 16, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the aeronautics of, for example, an aircraft. In particular, the present invention relates to a deflection device for influencing a slipstream of a body subjected to an airflow as well as to a corresponding method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In aviation, it is frequently necessary to drag bodies having arbitrary properties downstream of aircraft in flight. This can have various reasons. In the case of measurements of the atmosphere, for example, probes have to be dragged through the air in order to obtain meteorological data. Alternatively, in the case of tanker aircraft during flight, refuel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The deflection device influences the slipstream downstream of the stream body in, it is believed, a positive manner. If the body streamed against is a stream body having a blunt end, strong turbulences can arise downstream of the stream body due to the slipstream. The mounting of a deflection device at the end of the body may have the effect that the slipstream and therefore the turbulences evoked are deflected out of the region immediately downstream of the stream body to the greatest possible extent. There can still remain a region where turbulences occur. By means of bending the face of the deflection device toward the local stream direction, however, this region can be shifted, so that the turbulences can no longer build up immediately downstream of the stream body, but substantially arise outside the cross section of the stream body. A dragged object, which would be located in the region immediately downstream of the stream body, would therefore be rid of the effect of the turbulences to the greatest possible extent. Therefore, only a small working surface of the dragged object is presented to the turbulences, due to which the stability of the dragged object, which is related to the length of the region influenced by the turbulences, may be enhanced. If the dragged object is, for example, a refueling hose, the enhanced stability can signify that the refueling process of an aircraft during flight is simplified and accelerated, if not actually rendered possible. In addition, the trapping of the refueling hose by the aircraft to be refueled may thereby be simplified and rendered possible.

[0021] By means of the deflection of the stream, which is performed in a way that is essentially vertical to the stream direction, a working surface as large as possible can be opposed to the stream. Thereby, an effective influencing of the slipstream can be achieved in an advantageous manner.

Problems solved by technology

If the body streamed against is a stream body having a blunt end, strong turbulences can arise downstream of the stream body due to the slipstream.

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