Rotary Actuated High Lift Gapped Aileron with Cove Lip Door
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gapped ailerons face challenges in providing high lift due to slot blockage and excessive fairing size, leading to aerodynamic drag and limited lift capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A rotary actuated high lift gapped aileron system with a hinge line positioned high inside a lower surface cove, utilizing a rotary actuator and bladed fitting geometry to maintain a clean airflow and reduce fairing requirements, while the droop panel and cove lip door enhance lift and airflow over the aileron.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gapped ailerons use traditional hinge line positioning and actuation mechanisms, then the structure is simple, but slot blockage occurs and excessive fairing size increases aerodynamic drag
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge line is repositioned from a conventional location to a high position inside the lower surface cove of the aileron, utilizing the vertical dimension within the aileron structure. This dimensional repositioning allows the hinge line to be concealed within the cove geometry, eliminating the need for external fairings and reducing slot blockage while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge line is nested within the lower surface cove of the aileron structure, with the cove geometry providing a recess that accommodates the hinge line. This nesting arrangement conceals the hinge line within the existing aerodynamic contours, eliminating the need for additional fairing structures and reducing overall complexity
2Productivity
If high wing aspect ratios are used to improve cruise performance, then cruise efficiency increases, but outboard flap span becomes very long requiring heavy and expensive flaps with many spoilers
Solution Approach 1:
The aileron configuration is modified by changing the hinge line position parameter to a high position inside the lower surface cove, and by implementing a gapped design with droop panel and cove lip door. These parameter changes enable the aileron to provide high lift capabilities that reduce the need for heavy outboard flaps and multiple spoilers, thereby reducing weight while maintaining cruise performance
3Adaptability or versatility
If single slot flaps with drooping spoilers are used for TEVC functionality, then trailing edge variable camber is achieved, but the flap structure becomes heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flap structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a high lift gapped aileron with hinge line in the lower surface cove, a droop panel for camber adjustment, and a cove lip door for slot control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving trailing edge variable camber functionality while simplifying the overall structure compared to conventional single slot flaps with drooping spoilers
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 system achieves high lift functionality with reduced drag and minimal slot blockage, allowing for a shorter aileron span and fewer spoilers, thereby improving cruise performance and simplifying the flap configuration.
Implementation Method 1
A droop panel is positioned over the hinge line and operable to enhance lift of the high lift gapped aileron
Implementation Method 2
a cove lip door is positioned under the hinge line and operable to provide an airflow over the high lift gapped aileron
Implementation Method 3
A rotary actuator coupled to the high lift gapped aileron at the hinge line produces a rotary motion of the high lift gapped aileron in response to an actuation command
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A rotary actuated high lift gapped aileron linkage (304) is presented. A high lift gapped aileron (306) couples to an airfoil at a hinge line (418) and changes a camber of the airfoil. A rotary actuator (312) coupled to the high lift gapped aileron produces a rotary motion of the high lift gapped aileron in response to an actuation command. A droop panel (308) positioned over the hinge line enhances lift of the high lift gapped aileron. A cove lip door (310) positioned under the hinge line provides an airflow over the high lift gapped aileron. The deployment linkage mechanism coupled to the high lift gapped aileron positions the droop panel and the cove lip door in response to the rotary motion.