Aircraft Wing Aileron Segmentation for Span Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size of passenger aircraft requires larger wing spans, but airport operating rules limit maximum span, leading to reduced effectiveness of ailerons when using movable wing tip devices, as they necessitate moving ailerons inboard or reducing their length to accommodate the junction between the wing tip device and fixed wing.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft wing design featuring a movable wing tip device that transitions between flight and ground configurations, with a master and slave flight control surface interface providing a rigid connection during flight and decoupling during ground operations, allowing the wing span to be reduced without compromising aileron functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a movable wing tip device is used to reduce span during ground operations, then airport clearance compliance is improved, but aileron effectiveness deteriorates due to the need to move ailerons inboard or reduce their length
Solution Approach 1:
The aileron system is segmented into a master aileron portion on the fixed wing and a slave aileron portion on the movable wing tip device. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the master aileron can maintain full length and effectiveness on the fixed wing, while the slave aileron portion can be properly positioned on the movable wing tip device without compromising overall aileron functionality when the device is in flight configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The interface between master and slave aileron portions is designed to be dynamic - providing a rigid connection during flight configuration for coordinated operation, and allowing decoupling during ground configuration when the movable wing tip device is repositioned. This dynamic interface ensures aileron effectiveness is maintained only when needed (during flight) while allowing span reduction during ground operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If a junction is created between movable wing tip device and fixed wing, then span reduction capability is achieved, but aileron operation is compromised requiring inboard relocation or length reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The interface structure acts as an intermediary between the master aileron on the fixed wing and the slave aileron portion on the movable wing tip device. This intermediary provides a rigid mechanical connection that transmits control inputs from the master to the slave portion, enabling coordinated aileron operation across the junction between fixed and movable sections without compromising control effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the aileron into master and slave portions connected through the interface, the system allows the movable wing tip device to be properly integrated without forcing the entire aileron system inboard. The segmentation enables the slave portion to remain at the optimal outboard position on the movable section while still being effectively controlled
3Adaptability or versatility
If slave flight control surface is made independent, then operational independence is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for independent actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The control systems for the master and slave aileron portions are merged into a single actuation system. The rigid interface between master and slave portions mechanically couples their movement, so that a single actuator on the master aileron controls both portions simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for independent actuators on the slave portion, reducing device complexity while maintaining coordinated operation
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft wing having a fixed wing with a wing tip device. The wing tip device is movable between a flight configuration for use during flight, and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations. The wing has a master flight control surface associated with the fixed wing and a slave flight control surface associated with the wing tip device. An interface between the master flight control surface and the slave flight control surface is arranged to provide a rigid connection between the master flight control surface and slave flight control surface when the wing tip device is in the flight configuration. Moving the master control surface about a control axis causes the slave control surface to be moved about the control axis. The interface is arranged to de-couple the slave and master control surfaces when the wing tip device is moved from the flight configuration into the ground configuration.