Adjustable Lift Wingtip With Coordinated Flight-Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft winglets are optimized for specific flight conditions, leading to trade-offs between performance and weight, and fail to adjust efficiently across different flight phases, thereby reducing overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable lift modification wingtip system that includes a horizontal and vertical portion, with a control surface, which can adjust its toe angle and deflection in response to flight conditions, redistributing lift for optimal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If winglets are designed with additional structure to handle higher performance loads, then performance is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable wingtip devices that can change their configuration between different flight conditions. The wingtip device includes movable components that can be positioned to provide high performance during takeoff and climb, then retracted or adjusted to a lower drag configuration during cruise, eliminating the need for permanent heavy structural reinforcement
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes aerodynamic parameters by adjusting the wingtip device position and angle. During high-performance phases, the device is configured to maximize lift and reduce induced drag. During cruise, the device is adjusted to minimize drag. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the structure to handle variable loads without requiring maximum strength in all conditions
2Strength
If winglets are optimized for one flight condition, then performance at that condition is improved, but efficiency in other flight conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wingtip device is designed with movable components that can be dynamically repositioned between different flight phases. The system transitions from a fixed-configuration winglet to an adjustable configuration that adapts to takeoff, climb, cruise, and descent conditions, maintaining optimal aerodynamic performance across all phases
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable wingtip device serves multiple functions across different flight conditions. It provides high lift enhancement during takeoff and climb, transitions to a cruise-optimized configuration for efficient level flight, and can be adjusted for descent and landing phases, making it universally effective across the entire flight envelope
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed winglet configuration is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different flight conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces controlled complexity by adding adjustable mechanisms to the wingtip device. While the base structure remains relatively simple for manufacturing, the addition of movable components, actuators, and control systems enables dynamic adaptation to different flight conditions, trading some manufacturing complexity for significant operational flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable lift modification wingtip may be attached to a baseline wing of an aircraft. The adjustable lift modification wingtip may comprise a horizontal portion including a control surface and a vertical portion coupled to the horizontal portion. The vertical portion may move about an axis that may be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal portion. The control surface and the vertical portion may be adjusted in conjunction to increase wing efficiency at a flight condition.