Aircraft Wing Camber Adjustment via Coupled Droop Panel and Flap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camber adjustment systems for aircraft wings are bulky, heavy, and complex due to the use of dedicated droop actuators and multiple pinned connections, which complicates the control of positional relationships between droop panels and flaps.
Innovation Solution
A camber adjustment system that pivots a droop panel in response to flap movement via a coupler with an arcuate track, eliminating the need for a dedicated droop actuator and reducing the number of pinned connections, allowing for precise positional control and integration into compact wing designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated droop actuator is used to move the droop panel, then the droop panel can be reliably actuated, but the system occupies more space and adds weight to the airplane
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the dedicated droop actuator from the system. Instead of using a separate actuator for the droop panel, the system uses the existing flap actuator to drive both the flap and the droop panel through a coupled mechanism, thereby removing unnecessary weight while maintaining reliable actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The flap actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it actuates both the flap and the droop panel. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated droop actuator, reducing weight and space occupation while ensuring reliable actuation of both components
2Strength
If multiple pinned connections are used to connect the droop panel to the flap, then the connection is robust, but the positional relationship between the droop panel and flap becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: a rigid coupler body with a precisely formed arcuate track, and a separate linkage arm with a pivot pin. This segmentation allows the track to define the precise positional relationship while the pivot connection provides robust mechanical coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate track acts as an intermediary element between the droop panel and the flap linkage. It mediates the motion transfer, constraining the linkage arm to follow a precise arc that maintains the desired positional relationship between the droop panel and flap throughout the range of motion
3Volume of moving object
If a compact camber adjustment system is designed to reduce space occupation, then wing space efficiency improves, but the system complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the droop panel actuation mechanism with the existing flap actuation system. The coupler body and linkage arm are integrated components that work together in a unified mechanism, achieving compactness without excessive complexity by combining functions rather than adding separate systems
Data Source
AI summary
A camber adjustment system for a wing of an aircraft includes a droop panel that is configured to pivotally couple to a portion of a main body of a wing, a flap, and a coupler having a track that moveably couples the droop panel to the flap. The droop panel is configured to move in response to movement of the flap via the coupler.