Inflatable Wing Deployment via Ram Air for Aircraft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current high-speed aircraft face difficulties operating at low speeds due to design trade-offs such as significant weight increases required for increased wing area, which are not efficiently addressed by existing design principles.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable wing apparatus that moves between a stowed and deployed condition, using ram air generated by the aircraft's movement to inflate and deflate, connected to reels via suspension lines, allowing for selective wing area expansion without additional weight or structural complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional fixed or deployable wings are used to increase wing area, then low-speed operation capability is improved, but weight and structural complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-speed operation capabilityVSAvoidwing weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wing is designed as a dynamic, inflatable structure that can transition between stowed and deployed configurations. The inflatable wing panels are contained within the fuselage interior space during stowage and inflate to provide increased wing area during low-speed operations, allowing the aircraft to adapt its wing area based on operational requirements without carrying the permanent weight of a fixed large wing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses pneumatic inflation through ram air to deploy and inflate the wing panels. The inflatable structure utilizes air pressure to expand the wing panels from a compact stowed state to a deployed flight state, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical deployment mechanisms and reducing overall system weight while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional deployable wings are used to increase wing area, then low-speed operation capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-speed operation capabilityVSAvoidwing deployment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deployment mechanism is simplified by using pneumatic inflation through ram air pressure rather than complex mechanical systems. The inflatable wing panels automatically inflate when exposed to ram air during aircraft movement, eliminating the need for motors, actuators, and complex control mechanisms required by traditional deployable wing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The wing structure uses flexible inflatable panels instead of rigid mechanical components. These thin-film structures can be easily stored within the fuselage interior space and deployed through inflation, significantly reducing the complexity of the deployment mechanism compared to traditional rigid deployable wing systems with multiple moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If increased wing area is provided using current design principles, then low-speed operation is facilitated, but weight increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-speed operation capabilityVSAvoidaircraft structure weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable wing panels are nested within the fuselage interior space when in the stowed condition. This nesting arrangement allows the aircraft to carry the wing structure without increasing external dimensions or permanent weight, as the wings are contained within the existing fuselage volume and only deploy when needed during low-speed operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The wing area is dynamically adjusted based on operational needs rather than being fixed. The inflatable panels provide increased wing area only when the aircraft requires low-speed operation capability, and return to a compact stowed state during high-speed flight, eliminating the need to permanently carry the weight of a large fixed wing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables efficient low-speed operation of high-speed aircraft by providing additional wing area without the weight and design complications of traditional fixed or deployable wings, facilitating takeoff, landing, and loitering while maintaining aerodynamic performance.

Implementation Method 1

the wing interior configured to accept, and thus become inflated by, ram air flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRam air flow: Wind

Implementation Method 2

A plurality of selectively vertically extending suspension lines connects the wing to the reels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical tension: Tension

Data Source

PatentUS10106243B2Deployable wing for an aircraft

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space includes an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space. A plurality of reels is secured to the aircraft. A plurality of suspension lines connects the wing to the reels. At least one reel is operable to unwind a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft. A method of use for a deployable wing is also provided.