Deployable wing for an aircraft
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space;
a canopy tube located in the interior space, the inflatable wing being configured, in the stowed condition, to be at least partially contained within the canopy tube;
a plurality of reels secured to the aircraft; and
a plurality of suspension lines connecting the wing to the reels, at least one reel of the plurality of reels being operable to unwind a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft, and at least one reel of the plurality of reels being selectively operable to retract a corresponding suspension line to control deflation of the wing and return of the wing into the stowed condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space includes an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space. A plurality of reels is secured to the aircraft. A plurality of suspension lines connects the wing to the reels. At least one reel is operable to unwind a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft. A method of use for a deployable wing is also provided.
17 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space; a canopy tube located in the interior space, the inflatable wing being configured, in the stowed condition, to be at least partially contained within the canopy tube; a plurality of reels secured to the aircraft; and a plurality of suspension lines connecting the wing to the reels, at least one reel of the plurality of reels being operable to unwind a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft, and at least one reel of the plurality of reels being selectively operable to retract a corresponding suspension line to control deflation of the wing and return of the wing into the stowed condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An aircraft comprising:
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an outer mold line on a fuselage of the aircraft; an interior space within the fuselage; an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition, wherein the wing is substantially contained within the interior space and a deployed condition, wherein the inflatable wing is located wholly outside the outer mold line, in the ambient space, the inflatable wing including substantially planar flexible upper and lower wing panels being attached together at an aft edge thereof and including space vertically therebetween, when the wing is in the deployed condition, to form a wing interior configured to accept, and thus become inflated by, ram air flow; a canopy tube within the interior space, the canopy tube configured to at least partially contain the inflatable wing in the stowed condition; a plurality of reels secured to the aircraft within the interior space; and a plurality of selectively vertically extending suspension lines connecting the wing to the reels, at least one reel of the plurality of reels being selectively operable to extend a corresponding suspension line to allow the wing to inflate to the deployed condition exclusively by ram air flow generated by movement of the aircraft, and at least one reel of the plurality of reels being selectively operable to retract a corresponding suspension line to control deflation of the wing and return of the wing into the stowed condition. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of use for a deployable wing for an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space, the method comprising:
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providing an inflatable wing selectively movable between stowed and deployed conditions, the wing having an open fore edge and a substantially closed aft edge and a wing interior located laterally therebetween, the wing being secured to the aircraft at least by a plurality of suspension lines connecting the wing to a plurality of reels in the interior space; substantially containing the wing within the interior space when the wing is in the stowed condition, including at least partially containing the wing within a canopy tube located in the interior space; exposing the open fore edge of the wing to ram air generated by movement of the aircraft to allow the wing interior to inflate with the ram air; deflating the wing interior of the wing in the deployed condition by selectively operating at least one reel to retract a corresponding suspension line; and returning the wing from the deployed condition to the stowed condition in the interior space of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification