Aircraft Slat Aperture Sealing with Flap and Plug Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coupling arrangements for aircraft leading edge slats cause aerodynamic drag and flow disturbances during high-lift configurations due to apertures exposed to airflow when the slats are deployed, as they are not adequately sealed.
Innovation Solution
A translating cable device with a seal assembly that includes a flap seal and a plug seal, which cooperate to seal the aperture in the fixed leading edge of the wing when the slat is extended, and a seal boot to protect the seals from protruding elements, minimizing aerodynamic drag and flow disturbances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an aperture is provided in the fixed leading edge to accommodate the translating cable device, then the slat can move between retracted and extended positions, but the aperture causes aerodynamic drag and flow disturbances when exposed to airflow during high-lift configurations
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal assembly comprising a radially outwardly directed flap seal and an axially inwardly directed plug seal is used to seal the aperture. The flexible nature of these seals allows them to accommodate the movement of the translating cable device while maintaining an aerodynamically smooth surface when the slat is in the high-lift configuration, thereby eliminating aerodynamic drag and flow disturbances.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the aperture is sealed to reduce aerodynamic drag, then airflow over the wing is improved, but the translating cable device requires complex sealing mechanisms to accommodate slat movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is divided into two distinct functional segments: a flap seal that seals radially outward and a plug seal that seals axially inward. This segmentation allows each seal to address a specific sealing direction, simplifying the overall design while effectively sealing the aperture during slat movement and in the high-lift configuration.
3Reliability
If multiple seals are provided to seal the aperture at different slat positions, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of the flap seal and plug seal creates a universal sealing solution that handles multiple sealing requirements simultaneously. The flap seal addresses radial sealing needs, while the plug seal addresses axial sealing needs, allowing a single seal assembly design to effectively seal the aperture across all slat positions without requiring multiple separate sealing mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An aircraft wing assembly, comprising a wing (2) having a fixed leading edge (7), a slat (6) mounted for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the fixed leading edge, and a translating cable device (9) for electrically connecting the slat to the wing and having a strut (10) coupled at one end to the slat, the fixed leading edge having an aperture (15) to accommodate the strut, and a seal (16,17) assembly for sealing between the strut and the aperture.