Aircraft Wing Flap Follower Rail Gap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft wing designs experience aerodynamic disturbances and performance losses during take-off due to a break in contact between the trailing edge of the mobile leading edge flap and the fixed central body, caused by differential deformation under aerodynamic loads.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a follower rail between the drive rails, constrained to follow an arcuate trajectory, which applies a compensating force to push the flap closer to the central body, opposing the aerodynamic moment and reducing the gap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mobile leading edge flap is used to increase lift during take-off and landing, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but a break in contact (slot) appears between the flap trailing edge and the fixed central body due to differential deformation under aerodynamic loads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidaerodynamic disturbances from slot

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A follower rail is introduced as an intermediary element between the mobile flap and the fixed central body. This follower rail, constrained to move along an arcuate trajectory, applies a compensating force to push the flap closer to the central body, thereby eliminating the harmful slot while allowing the flap to maintain its aerodynamic function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The follower rail applies a preliminary counteracting force to the aerodynamic loads that cause differential deformation. By opposing the aerodynamic moment that creates the slot, the follower rail prevents the break in contact from forming in the first place, maintaining continuous contact between the flap trailing edge and the fixed central body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the flap is allowed to deform freely under aerodynamic loads, then the flap can adapt to flow conditions, but a slot forms between the flap and fixed body reducing overall performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflap deformation adaptabilityVSAvoidaircraft performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The follower rail applies a localized compensating force at the trailing edge region of the mobile flap where the slot forms. This localized action maintains continuous contact at the critical interface between the flap and fixed body, while allowing the rest of the flap to maintain its adaptive deformation characteristics under aerodynamic loads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2116467B1Aircraft wing comprising a leading edge mobile flap shutter equipped with a follow-up rail with movement restricted according to an arc of circle trajectory

Publication Date: 2012.05.02 SONACA SA

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4

AI summary

The wing (4) has a movement device moving a mobile flap (16) of a leading edge and with a follow-up rail (50) extending along a guiding line in the form of an arc of circle (60) centered on a rotational axis (18) of the flap. The follow-up rail is placed between two drive rails and permits following-up displacement of the flap. Guiding systems (56) guide the follow-up rail, and are connected on a fixed central body (8). The guiding systems restrain the follow-up rail in displacement such that the line remains superimposed to a path in the form of an arc of circle (62) centered on the axis.