Aircraft Flap Clearance Dynamics for Interference
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight control surfaces, such as flaps and slats, face interference issues due to assembly tolerance and vibration during deployment and storage, leading to reduced operational reliability and increased air resistance.
Innovation Solution
Inclining the end surfaces of flight control surfaces and the corresponding portions of the main wing in specific directions allows for a gradual widening of the clearance between them, absorbing displacement and preventing interference without increasing the initial clearance dimensions, thereby enhancing operational reliability and reducing air resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clearance between the end surface of the flap and the inner wall of the storage portion is widened to avoid interference during movement, then interference is prevented, but the stiffness of the rubber seal becomes difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by making the clearance variable rather than constant. The end surface of the flap is inclined at a specific angle relative to the longitudinal direction, causing the clearance between the flap end surface and the storage portion inner wall to dynamically change during deployment and retraction movements. This dynamic clearance adjustment allows sufficient space during movement while maintaining compact dimensions during storage, resolving the contradiction between preventing interference and maintaining seal stiffness.
2Strength
If the clearance is set to ensure stiffness of the rubber seal, then seal stiffness is maintained, but interference may occur during the moving process due to assembly tolerance or vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamic clearance mechanism through the inclined end surface design. During storage, the clearance remains compact to maintain seal stiffness. During deployment and retraction movements, the inclination causes the clearance to dynamically increase, accommodating assembly tolerances and vibration displacements. This dynamic adjustment ensures both seal stiffness during storage and interference prevention during movement.
3Reliability
If the initial clearance dimensions are increased to absorb assembly tolerance and vibration displacement, then interference is prevented, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics to resolve the contradiction between reliability and energy loss. The inclined end surface creates a dynamic clearance that remains compact during storage (minimizing air resistance) and automatically expands during deployment movements (preventing interference). This eliminates the need for consistently large clearance dimensions, thereby reducing parasitic drag while ensuring operational reliability during movement.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an aircraft including: a main wing; and a flight control surface that is deployed from the main wing in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction. In the aircraft, an end surface of the flight control surface facing the main wing when the flight control surface is not deployed is inclined with respect to the first direction or the second direction on at least one side of a longitudinal direction of the flight control surface, and a portion of the main wing facing the end surface is also inclined with respect to the first direction or the second direction in accordance with the end surface.