Aircraft High Lift Flap Retaining Element Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high lift systems for aircraft experience deformation of leading edge flaps due to air loads and vibrations, leading to inconsistent gap dimensions between flaps and the wing, which can result in suboptimal aerodynamic performance during take-off and landing.
Innovation Solution
A high lift system featuring a movable flap with a retaining element that restricts the gap dimension between the flap edge and the basic body, using a flexible retaining element that can absorb tensile forces and adjust the gap length to maintain consistency, even under varying air loads and temperatures, through a displacement device that actively manages the retaining element's tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional flap system is used without additional retaining elements, then the flap can move freely under air loads, but the gap dimensions become inconsistent and deform under aerodynamic forces
Solution Approach 1:
A retaining element acts as an intermediary component between the flap and the basic body. This element restricts the gap dimension while allowing the flap to move freely under air loads, thereby maintaining both adaptability and precision simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element changes the physical parameters of the gap by restricting its maximum dimension. It allows the gap to open freely under aerodynamic loads but prevents excessive opening, thus controlling the gap dimension within acceptable tolerances while maintaining movement freedom
2Ease of manufacture
If the flap is mounted at individual drive stations distributed over the leading edge, then the mounting and guidance are simplified, but areas of the flap become positioned almost fixed in space while flexing lines appear in adjacent regions
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element extracts the deformation problem from the flap structure by providing an external constraint. It takes out the excess gap dimension that causes inconsistent deformation, allowing the flap to maintain more uniform deformation characteristics across its surface
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to make the entire flap move uniformly, the retaining element allows certain areas to remain almost fixed in space while controlled flexing occurs in specific regions. This inverted approach of allowing localized fixation actually improves overall deformation uniformity
3Device complexity
If no retaining element is used, then the flap system has fewer components and lower complexity, but the gap dimension varies due to air loads and vibration phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element serves as a simple intermediary component that significantly improves gap dimension stability. This single element restricts gap variation due to air loads and vibrations without requiring complex systems, thus improving reliability with minimal added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element is designed to automatically restrict the gap dimension under varying air loads and vibration conditions without requiring active control systems. It self-adjusts to maintain gap stability within tolerance limits, providing reliable performance through passive mechanical constraint
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures a consistent and predetermined gap dimension, enhancing aerodynamic performance by maintaining flap edge alignment and stability, reducing the risk of deformation and damage, and accommodating temperature variations.
Implementation Method 1
The retaining element (26) is configured in particular to receive a tensile force
Implementation Method 2
the flap edge can be pulled and/or flexed in the direction of the basic body by the retaining element
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A high lift system (16) for an aircraft comprises a basic body (20), a flap (18) which is movably mounted on the basic body (20) and has a flap edge (22), and a retaining element (26). The high lift system (16) is set up to form a gap (32) between the flap edge (22) and the basic body (20). The retaining element (26) is mounted on a region of the flap (18) close to the flap edge (22) and extends towards the basic body (20) to restrict the distance between the flap edge (22) and the basic body (20). The retaining element (26) is preferably configured as a linear attachment means. Consequently, a gap dimension between a flap (18) and a basic body (20) can be influenced to restrict flexing effects during loading of the flap (18) and of the basic body (20).