IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,433,988
Granted Patent B2
US 11,433,988 · App. 17/057,948 · Granted Sep 6, 2022

Aircraft wing comprising a mobile leading edge flap guided by a device located at the front of a wing box

Inventor: Xavier Godfroid (Mont Saint Guibert, BE)
Assignee: SONACA S.A.
B64C9/22B64C3/185B64C9/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,433,988
App. No.
17/057,948
Granted
Sep 6, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft wing including a mobile leading edge flap associated with a guiding device arranged at the front of a front spar of a wing box, and including: —a pivoting member having one end connected to the spar by an articulated linkage; —a pivoting member connected to one end of the member by an articulated linkage, the end of this member being connected to the flap via an articulated linkage; —a guide rail receiving a tracking member supported by the member, the rail defining a path inscribed on the surface of an imaginary sphere, the centre of which corresponds to a point of convergence of the axes of the three linkages.

Claims (19)

1. An aircraft wing ( 4 ) comprising a fixed wing centre body ( 8 ), as well as at least one mobile leading edge flap ( 16 ) for being moved relative to said fixed centre body between an extended position and a retracted position, the fixed wing centre body ( 8 ) comprising a front spar ( 32 ) delimiting a wing box ( 31 ) at the front of which said mobile flap is located, the latter being associated with at least one guiding device ( 40 ) for guiding it with respect to the fixed wing centre body ( 8 ),

wherein the guiding device ( 40 ) is totally arranged at the front of the front spar ( 32 ) of the wing box, this device including the following elements:

a first pivoting member ( 42 ) having a first end ( 42 a ) connected to the front spar ( 32 ) of the wing box through a first hinged connection ( 50 a );

a second pivoting member ( 44 ) connected to a second end ( 42 b ) of the first pivoting member ( 42 ) through a second hinged connection ( 50 b ) arranged between a first and a second end ( 44 a , 44 b ) of the second pivoting member, the first end ( 44 a ) of this second pivoting member being connected to a module ( 56 ) for connecting the mobile flap ( 16 ) through a third hinged connection ( 50 c ); and

a guiding rail ( 46 ) integral with the front spar ( 32 ) of the wing box, the guiding rail receiving a follower member ( 58 ) arranged at the second end ( 44 b ) of the second pivoting member ( 44 ), the guiding rail defining a trajectory ( 62 ) lying on the surface of a dummy sphere ( 64 ),

and wherein the hinging axes ( 54 , 54 b , 54 c ) of the three hinged connections converge to a same point ( 66 ) corresponding to the centre of the dummy sphere ( 64 ).

2. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivoting members ( 42 , 44 ) are arms.

3. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the second hinged connection ( 50 b ) is arranged at a median zone ( 44 c ) of the second pivoting member ( 44 ).

4. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the first hinged connection ( 50 a ) is made using one or more hinges ( 52 ).

5. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the follower member ( 58 ) is a roller system carried by the second end ( 44 b ) of the second pivoting member ( 44 ).

6. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding rail ( 46 ) and the first hinged connection ( 50 c ) are spaced apart from each other along a span direction ( 17 ) of the wing.

7. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the trajectory ( 62 ) defined by the guiding rail ( 46 ) requires a movement of the third hinged connection ( 50 c ) in a movement plane ( 68 ) parallel to a chord direction ( 70 ) of the wing, and wherein the motion of the flap relative to the wing fixed centre body is a rotation along a rotational axis ( 18 ) of the flap passing through the point of convergence ( 66 ) of the hinging axes ( 54 , 54 b , 54 c ) of the three hinged connections.

8. The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the trajectory ( 62 ) defined by the guiding rail ( 46 ) requires a movement of the third hinged connection ( 50 c ) in a movement plane ( 72 ) parallel to a flight direction ( 3 ).

9. The wing according to claim 1 , further including, being associated with said mobile leading edge flap ( 16 ), at least one device ( 80 ) for moving the mobile flap, the moving device being mounted to the wing fixed centre body ( 8 ).

10. The wing according to claim 9 , wherein the moving device ( 80 ) has an outlet ( 84 ) mounted to the mobile leading edge flap ( 16 ), or has an outlet ( 84 ) mounted to the first pivoting member ( 42 ), or to the second pivoting member ( 44 ) of the guiding device ( 40 ).

11. The wing according to claim 9 , wherein the moving device ( 80 ) is a cylinder.

12. The wing according to claim 9 , wherein the moving device ( 80 ) is totally arranged at the front of the front spar ( 32 ) of the wing box ( 31 ).

13. The wing according to claim 9 , wherein it includes being associated with said mobile leading edge flap ( 16 ), several moving devices ( 80 ) as well as several guiding devices ( 40 ).

14. The wing according to claim 12 , wherein the moving device ( 80 ) is fastened to the front spar ( 32 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2020
From: GODFROID, XAVIER
To: SONACA S.A.
Reel/Frame 054504/0629 →
Priority Claims (1)
BE 2018/5348 · May 29, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210206473A1 · Jul 8, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,486,020 US 12,565,306