Aircraft Flight Control Surface Translating Body Gap Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight control surface designs fail to effectively create a gap between the main aerodynamic body and the trailing-edge flight control surface while deployed, leading to drag issues during cruise conditions due to external bumps housing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A translating body is coupled to the flight control surface, movable between a sealed and retracted position to adjust the gap between the main aerodynamic body and the flight control surface, eliminating the need for external bumps by positioning the hinge line inside the main aerodynamic body and using an actuator to control airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external bumps are used to house mechanisms for creating gap between main aerodynamic body and flight control surface, then the gap can be effectively created during deployment, but drag increases during cruise conditions due to external protrusions
Solution Approach 1:
The translating body and hinge mechanisms are nested within the flight control surface structure itself, eliminating the need for external bumps. The translating body moves within the contour of the flight control surface to create the necessary gap during deployment while maintaining a streamlined profile during cruise.
Solution Approach 2:
The translating body dynamically adjusts its position between extended and retracted states based on flight conditions. During cruise, it retracts to eliminate drag; during deployment, it extends to create the required gap, enabling the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
2Device complexity
If hinge line is positioned outside the main aerodynamic body, then mechanism simplicity is achieved, but external protrusions increase drag during cruise
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is nested within the main aerodynamic body, specifically positioned inside the contour of the flight control surface. This internal placement eliminates external protrusions while maintaining the functional simplicity of the hinge mechanism for creating the gap between surfaces.
3Reliability
If translating body is extended to close the gap between main aerodynamic body and flight control surface, then airflow management is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control surface is segmented into fixed and translating portions. The translating body can be actuated independently to adjust the gap, allowing precise airflow management while keeping the rest of the structure simple and straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The translating body provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the gap to be optimized for different flight conditions. This dynamic element adds only minimal complexity to achieve significant improvements in airflow management and aerodynamic efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerodynamic device includes a main aerodynamic body having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a flight control surface coupled to the main aerodynamic body near the trailing edge of the main aerodynamic body, and a translating body coupled to the flight control surface. The translating body is moveable relative to the flight control surface between a sealed position and a retracted position to define a gap. The translating body is extended toward the main aerodynamic body while in the sealed position to close the gap. The translating body is retracted away from the main aerodynamic body while in the retracted position to widen the gap. The gap adjusts an airflow flowing between the main aerodynamic body and the flight control surface.