Aileron Uprigger System for Wing Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerodynamic wing load distribution control systems for aircraft compromise flight performance by increasing drag and reducing structural fatigue life, as they require uprigging the ailerons, which limits differential deflections and necessitates additional wing fuel loads to manage bending moments and torsional loads.
Innovation Solution
An aileron uprigger system with actuators connected to the ailerons and an operator interface allows for adjustable aileron uprig positions, enabling operators to reduce wing bending loads during noncritical phases of flight while maintaining lift during critical phases, eliminating the need for wing fuel loads and optimizing flight performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If ailerons are uprigged to reduce wing bending moments and torsional loads, then structural fatigue life is improved, but flight performance deteriorates due to increased drag and reduced differential deflection capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts aileron neutral positions using actuators that can change the uprig setting during flight. This allows the ailerons to maintain a fixed uprig deflection for fatigue life improvement while still achieving full differential deflection capability when needed for flight performance, resolving the contradiction between structural durability and operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The uprigger system automatically maintains the selected uprig position through feedback mechanisms that compensate for aerodynamic forces and deflection demands. The system self-regulates to preserve the beneficial load-reducing deflection while allowing pilot commands to achieve necessary differential movements for maneuvering and performance
2Strength
If ailerons are uprigged by equal amounts on both wings, then swept wing bending moments and torsional loads are reduced, but the ability to command differential deflections through roll control inputs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the aileron control function into two independent components: (1) a symmetric uprig deflection component that reduces wing loads, and (2) a differential deflection component that enables roll control. This is achieved through separate actuator mechanisms that can independently adjust neutral positions on each side, allowing both load reduction and full differential capability to coexist
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows asymmetric adjustment of aileron neutral positions, where each aileron can have its own independent neutral setting. This asymmetric capability enables the ailerons to maintain equal uprig deflection for load reduction while still permitting unequal deflections from those neutral positions to achieve full roll authority and differential control versatility
Data Source
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AI summary
For increasing flight performance of an aircraft (22) an aileron uprigger (12) connected to left and right ailerons (14, 16) and is configured to uprig the left and the right wing ailerons of such aircraft. An operator interface (24) communicates operator command inputs to the aileron uprigger (12). The uprigger (12) includes left and right actuators (28, 30) which are actuable in response to said command inputs and connected into respective left and right aileron control linkages of an aileron actuator assembly.