Aircraft Folding Wing Tip Stop Plate for Trailing Edge Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding wing tips on aircraft experience upward deflection during flight, leading to disrupted airflow and reduced aerodynamic performance due to their discontinuous trailing edge sections, which are not directly pinned to the fixed wing portion.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a stop plate coupled to the inboard rib of the wing tip, which extends inboard and engages with the rub strip on the fixed wing portion to prevent upward deflection of the trailing edge section, maintaining alignment and reducing drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wing tip is made moveable between extended and folded positions to accommodate airport spacing constraints, then the aircraft can navigate narrower locations, but the trailing edge section experiences upward deflection during flight causing disrupted airflow
Solution Approach 1:
A stop plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the wing tip and the fixed wing portion. The stop plate engages with the outboard rib to prevent excessive upward deflection of the trailing edge section, thereby maintaining aerodynamic performance while preserving the folding capability for airport spacing adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The stop plate provides preliminary counter-action against the upward deflection force that would otherwise disrupt airflow. By pre-positioning the stop plate to engage with the outboard rib, the design preemptively prevents the harmful deflection before it can occur during flight operations
2Ease of operation
If the trailing edge section is made discontinuous to enable folding mechanism, then the wing tip can be moveably coupled, but airflow is disrupted and drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop plate acts as a mediator that connects the discontinuous trailing edge sections during flight operation. By engaging with the outboard rib, the stop plate effectively bridges the gap between the wing tip and fixed portion, maintaining continuous airflow paths and reducing drag while preserving the mechanical folding capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wing tip trailing edge is allowed to deflect upward, then the folding mechanism can move freely, but lift performance is reduced due to disrupted airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The stop plate provides preliminary resistance to upward deflection forces that would compromise lift performance. By engaging with the outboard rib, the stop plate preemptively counteracts the deflection before it can significantly disrupt airflow, thereby preserving lift generation while allowing the folding mechanism to operate freely within acceptable limits
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for limiting trailing edge deflection in aircraft folding wing tips are disclosed herein. An example aircraft wing disclosed herein includes a fixed wing portion. The fixed wing portion includes an outboard rib. The aircraft wing also includes a wing tip moveably coupled to the fixed wing portion. The wing tip is moveable between an extended position and a folded position. The wing tip includes an inboard rib that is disposed in a trailing edge section of the wing tip. The wing tip includes a stop plate coupled to the inboard rib. The stop plate extends inboard from the inboard rib such that when the wing tip is in the extended position, the stop plate is disposed below a portion of the outboard rib of the fixed wing portion to limit upward deflection of the trailing edge section of the wing tip relative to the fixed wing portion.