IP Library Granted Patent US 12,583,574
Granted Patent B2
US 12,583,574 · App. 18/670,218 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Aircraft lifting surface and aircraft comprising such lifting surface

Inventor: Raul Carlos Llamas Sandin (Getafe, ES)
Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.U.
B64C9/18B64C23/005B64C2230/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,583,574
App. No.
18/670,218
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft lifting surface comprising an aerodynamic surface with a first electrode embedded at its surface, and a control surface articulated to the aerodynamic surface, the control surface comprises a second electrode embedded at its surface, and that the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged and adapted to create a plasma in air upon application of a predetermined electrical tension, called ionizing tension, between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims (28)

1 . An aircraft lifting surface comprising:

an aerodynamic surface comprising at least a first electrode embedded at a surface of the aerodynamic surface and,

a control surface articulated to the aerodynamic surface,

wherein the control surface comprises at least a second electrode embedded at a surface of the control surface,

and that the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged and configured to create a plasma in air upon application of a predetermined electrical tension, called ionizing tension, between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is embedded beneath a dielectric layer.

3 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is arranged in a trailing portion of the aerodynamic surface.

4 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is arranged along an open edge of a trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface.

5 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is arranged in a leading portion of the control surface.

6 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein in a nominal position of the control surface, a leading edge of the control surface is adapted to be housed in a trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface.

7 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 6 , wherein, in the nominal position, the second electrode is arranged on the leading edge of the control surface so as to be housed within the trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface.

8 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamic surface comprises the first electrode on an extrados and a third electrode on an intrados,

wherein the control surface comprises the second electrode on an extrados and a fourth electrode on an intrados, and

wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are configured to create a plasma in air upon application of the ionizing tension between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

9 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 8 , wherein the third electrode is arranged in a trailing portion of the aerodynamic surface,

wherein the fourth electrode is arranged on a leading edge of the control surface so as to be housed within a trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface with the control surface in the nominal position.

10 . The aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 , wherein the control surface comprises an array of second electrodes, said second electrodes being separated from each other along a chord of the control surface.

11 . An aircraft comprising:

the aircraft lifting surface according to claim 1 .

12 . The aircraft according to claim 11 , further comprising:

an electrical power source connected to the first electrode and to the second electrode configured to apply the ionizing tension between the first electrode and the second electrode.

13 . The aircraft according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a control device configured to energize the first electrode and the second electrode upon one or more predetermined conditions.

14 . The aircraft according to claim 13 , wherein the control surface has a nominal position with respect to the aerodynamic surface, and the control device is configured to energize the first electrode and the second electrode when the control surface is deflected from the nominal position of at least a predetermined angle, called deflection angle.

15 . The aircraft according to claim 13 , wherein the aerodynamic surface comprises the first electrode on an extrados and a third electrode on an intrados,

wherein the control surface comprises the second electrode on an extrados and a fourth electrode on an intrados, and

wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are configured to create a plasma in air upon application of the ionizing tension between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, and,

wherein the control device is further configured to energize the third electrode and the fourth electrode when the control surface is deflected from a nominal position below a predetermined angle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2024
From: LLAMAS SANDIN, RAUL CARLOS
To: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.U.
Reel/Frame 067482/0268 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 23382480 · May 23, 2023 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240391582A1 · Nov 28, 2024
References Cited (9)
US 11192639B2 · Llamas Sandin · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20120312923A1 · Chang · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20190193843A1 · Kikuchi et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190300159A1 · Kikuchi et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190322358A1 · Kato et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190329870A1 · Kato et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190344878A1 · Kato et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 3738882A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
European Search Report for corresponding European Patent Application No. 23382480 dated Oct. 25, 2023. [cited by applicant]