Segmented Aircraft Spoiler with Articulated Drive Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spoilers for aircraft aerodynamic bodies are complex and heavy, leading to increased manufacturing, operating, and maintenance costs, while also impairing cruising performance due to their structural complexity and additional weight.
Innovation Solution
A spoiler design featuring multiple segments articulated about an axis transverse to the airflow direction, allowing for adjustable angles of inclination, which can be actuated by a drive device to optimize aerodynamic effectiveness for lift control and lift dumping functions without increasing overall weight or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spoilers are designed with complex structures to achieve lift control and lift dumping functions, then aerodynamic effectiveness is improved, but weight and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spoiler is divided into multiple segments (first spoiler segment and second spoiler segment) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized for specific aerodynamic functions while reducing the overall structural weight compared to a single complex rigid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spoiler segments are designed with dynamic movement capabilities through articulations and drive devices. The segments can be adjusted to different positions and angles during flight, enabling adaptive aerodynamic control for both lift dumping and lift enhancement functions without requiring a heavy fixed complex structure.
2Reliability
If additional control surfaces are added to improve lift control effectiveness, then aerodynamic performance is enhanced, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented spoiler is designed to perform multiple functions: lift dumping, lift enhancement, and roll control. By making the spoiler segments movable and adjustable, a single control surface system replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate control surfaces, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive aerodynamic control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spoiler segments can change their geometric parameters (position, angle, spacing) dynamically during flight. This parameter variability allows the same physical structure to achieve different aerodynamic effects, eliminating the need for additional fixed control surfaces for different flight conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If spoiler segments are articulated to different angles to optimize aerodynamic effectiveness, then lift control precision is improved, but articulation mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation mechanism is segmented into discrete, standardized components (first articulation, second articulation, drive devices) that can be independently designed and manufactured. This modular approach to the articulation system makes the precision adjustment mechanism more manageable and manufacturable compared to a monolithic complex mechanism.
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 segmented spoiler design enhances aerodynamic performance by allowing greater flexibility in adapting to airflow, reducing the need for additional control surfaces and weight, while maintaining high lift and roll control effectiveness, thus improving aircraft performance without increasing structural complexity or weight.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting the spoilers that are supported such that they are articulated about an axis extending transverse to the air flow direction upward relative to the air flow, wherein this upward adjustment leads to an abrupt separation of the flow at this location of the air flow profile
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to a spoiler (5) for an aerodynamically active surface of an aircraft (1), particularly for an airfoil of an aircraft, wherein said spoiler is supported on the aerodynamically active surface such that it is articulated about an axis (11) extending transverse to the air flow direction and can be adjusted relative to the air flow. According to the invention, the spoiler features two or more segments (6, 7) that are arranged behind one another referred to the air flow direction and extend transverse to the air flow direction, wherein said segments are connected to one another in an articulated fashion and can be adjusted to different angles referred to the air flow. The successively arranged segments of the spoiler (5) can be actuated, in particular, by means of an actuating device (8, 9, 10) in such a way that the rear segment (7) is adjusted relative to the air flow by a greater angle than the front segment (6).