Reversible Camber Wing Pivoting Mechanism for Tacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid camber wing-sails cannot invert, limiting their ability to tack and generating lift in only one direction, leading to instability and safety concerns, while existing reversible camber wing designs are complex, durable, and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A reversible camber wing design featuring a first body portion, a pivotable second body portion, and a flexible skin that defines the exterior surface, allowing the second body portion to pivot between two positions to change camber direction, enabling lift generation in opposite directions and simplifying the design for improved durability and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a rigid camber wing-sail is used, then aerodynamic efficiency and speed are improved, but the ability to invert for tacking is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the camber reversible by allowing the airfoil to dynamically change its curvature direction. The second body portion can pivot relative to the first body portion, enabling the flexible skin to conform to different camber configurations (first camber and second camber), thus providing both aerodynamic efficiency and tacking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing-sail is divided into multiple body portions (first body portion and second body portion) that can move independently. The second body portion is selectively pivoted relative to the first body portion, allowing the camber to be reversed without requiring the entire structure to be flexible or symmetric.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a symmetric airfoil is used to enable tacking, then invert capability is improved, but stability at small angles of attack deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses asymmetric airfoils (cambered wings) that are optimized for unidirectional lift generation. By making the camber reversible through the pivoting mechanism rather than using a symmetric airfoil, the design maintains the stability benefits of asymmetric airfoils while still enabling tacking capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing reversible camber wing designs are implemented, then tacking capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the camber-reversal function with the basic wing structure itself. The flexible skin and body portions that define the aerodynamic shape also serve as the mechanism for camber reversal, eliminating the need for separate complex mechanisms found in existing designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible skin extends around the body portions and conforms to their shapes, allowing the camber to change as the body portions pivot. This flexible skin approach simplifies the structure compared to rigid mechanisms while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing reversible camber wing designs are implemented, then tacking capability is improved, but durability decreases due to fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state or configuration of the body portions through pivoting rather than requiring complex mechanical transformations. This simpler motion reduces stress concentrations and fatigue on critical components, improving durability while maintaining reversibility.
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 design allows for safer tacking with reduced stress and fatigue, is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, and provides a more durable solution compared to conventional reversible wing designs.
Implementation Method 1
the second body portion is configured to be selectively pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the first body portion between a second-body-portion first position and a second-body-portion second position
Implementation Method 2
a flexible skin that extends around the first and second body portions—thereby defining an exterior surface of the reversible camber wings, in some examples
Data Source
AI summary
Reversible camber wings are disclosed herein. A reversible camber wing includes a first body portion that defines a trailing edge of the reversible camber wing and a second body portion that defines a leading edge of the reversible camber wing. The second body portion is configured to be selectively pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the first body portion between a first position and a second position. The reversible camber wing additionally comprises a flexible skin that extends around the first and second body portions and conforms to the body portions when the second body portion is in the first position and the second position. When the second body portion is in the first position, the reversible camber wing has a first camber, and when the second body portion is in the second position, the reversible camber wing has a second camber that is opposite the first camber.