Segmented Flight Surface Seal for Gap Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft flight surface seals face challenges in being both flexible enough to accommodate varying gap widths due to thermal expansion and control surface movements while maintaining structural stiffness to resist airflow, and in effectively sealing non-uniform gaps along the wing span.
Innovation Solution
A seal arrangement featuring movably mounted seal bodies with flexible sealing portions that can adjust to varying gap widths and provide necessary stiffness, allowing for independent movement of seal plates to conform to changing gap dimensions and maintain sealing contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If unitary flexible seals are used to seal gaps between flight surface components, then the seals can accommodate changes in gap width due to thermal expansion and control surface movements, but the seals are too laterally stiff to account for variations in seal gap along the wing span and deform under fluid loading
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple independent seal segments arranged in parallel along the gap. Each segment can independently deform and accommodate local variations in gap width along the wing span while maintaining overall sealing continuity. This segmentation allows the seal to adapt to thermal expansion, control surface movements, and non-uniform gap variations without requiring excessive lateral stiffness in any single segment.
2Reliability
If a seal flange of significant width is used to prevent sliding, then the seal can maintain positioning, but the structural stiffness of the seal decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal transitions from a static flange-based positioning system to a dynamic system where seal segments can move independently along the gap. The segments are constrained to move only in the direction perpendicular to the gap, eliminating the need for wide lateral flanges. This dynamic adaptation allows the seal to maintain positioning reliability while preserving structural stiffness by removing excess material.
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 solution ensures effective sealing across varying gap widths and along the wing span, reducing airflow losses and preventing boundary layer separation, while maintaining structural integrity under fluid loading.
Implementation Method 1
resilient seals which are mounted to a first component to seal against a second adjacent component and resiliently deform to the seal gap as it varies
Data Source
AI summary
A seal for sealing a gap between a first (252) and a second (207) component of an aircraft flight surface which has a first seal body (222) having a first sealing portion (246) arranged to seal against the first component, wherein the first seal body is movably mounted to the second component so as to seal at least part of the gap during relative movement of the first and second components. A seal is also provided with components movable relative to each other.