Granted Patent B2

US 7,237,434 · App. 10/836,435 · Granted Jul 3, 2007

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. An aerodynamic wind tunnel comprising:

a test section having an upstream end and a downstream end;

a nozzle positioned near the upstream end of the test section;

a collector defining an opening positioned near the downstream end of the test section; and

a damping section including a plurality of slats defining a plurality of slots positioned in the downstream end of the test section, upstream of the collector, the plurality of slats defining a top panel and a pair of depending side panels that substantially conform to a perimeter of the collector opening;

wherein each slat is substantially perpendicular to a cross-sectional area of the collector opening.

2. The wind tunnel of claim 1 , further comprising at least one collector flap disposed between the collector opening and the damping section to direct air flow from the damping section into the collector opening.

3. The wind tunnel of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top panel and depending side panels are formed of a solid panel having the slots formed therein.

4. The wind tunnel of claim 1 , wherein the damping section is spaced apart from the collector opening.

5. The wind tunnel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slats are rigidly held separated from one another.

6. The wind tunnel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slats are rigidly held separated from one another by the slots.

7. The wind tunnel of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of slots traverse a length of the damping section.

8. A damping section for an aerodynamic wind tunnel having a test section defined by a nozzle mouth at an upstream end and a collector mouth at a downstream end, the damping section including a plurality of slats defining a plurality of slots and extending in the downstream end of the test section, the plurality of slats defining a top panel and a pair of depending side panels that substantially conform to a perimeter of the collector mouth to dissipate irregularities in the flow of air at the perimeter of the collector mouth, the fixed stats being substantially perpendicular to a cross-sectional area of the collector mouth.

9. The aerodynamic wind tunnel of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of slats of the top panel are formed substantially perpendicular to the plurality of slots of the depending side panels.

10. The wind tunnel of claim 8 , further comprising at least one collector flap disposed between the collector mouth and the damping section to direct air flow from the damping section into the collector mouth.

11. The wind tunnel of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the top panel and depending side panels are formed of a solid panel having the slots formed therein.

12. The wind tunnel of claim 8 , wherein the damping section is spaced apart from the collector mouth.

13. The wind tunnel of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of slats are rigidly held separated from one another.

Assignments (20)