Aerospace vehicle flow body systems and associated methods
First Claim
1. An aerospace vehicle system, comprising:
- a first flow body coupleable to an aerospace vehicle;
a second flow body having a first portion rigidly connected to a second portion, the second portion of the second flow body being laterally disposed from the first portion of the second flow body, the first portion having a first chord line and being rotatably coupled to the first flow body at a first hinge point positioned away from the first chord line, the first hinge point having a first hinge axis, the second portion having a second chord line and being rotatably coupled to the first flow body at a second hinge point positioned away from the second chord line, the second hinge point having a second hinge axis, the second flow body being rotatable about a hinge line between a first position and a second position, the hinge line being positioned to be swept relative to a longitudinal axis of the aerospace vehicle when the first flow body is coupled to the aerospace vehicle, the hinge line being nonparallel with the first hinge axis; and
at least one self-aligning mechanism coupled between the first flow body and the second flow body, the at least one self-aligning mechanism being positioned to allow the second flow body to rotate about the hinge line and the first and second hinge axes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Flow body systems and associated methods, including aerospace vehicle control surface systems are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward an aerospace vehicle system that includes a first flow body that can be coupleable to an aerospace vehicle. The system can further included a second flow body that includes a chord line and can be rotatably coupled to the first flow body at a hinge point positioned away from the chord line. The hinge point can have a hinge axis. The hinge line can extend through the hinge point, but being nonparallel with the hinge axis. The system can still further include at least one self-aligning mechanism coupled between the first flow body and the second flow body. The at least one self-aligning mechanism can be positioned to allow the second flow body to rotate about the hinge line and the hinge axis.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An aerospace vehicle system, comprising:
-
a first flow body coupleable to an aerospace vehicle;
a second flow body having a first portion rigidly connected to a second portion, the second portion of the second flow body being laterally disposed from the first portion of the second flow body, the first portion having a first chord line and being rotatably coupled to the first flow body at a first hinge point positioned away from the first chord line, the first hinge point having a first hinge axis, the second portion having a second chord line and being rotatably coupled to the first flow body at a second hinge point positioned away from the second chord line, the second hinge point having a second hinge axis, the second flow body being rotatable about a hinge line between a first position and a second position, the hinge line being positioned to be swept relative to a longitudinal axis of the aerospace vehicle when the first flow body is coupled to the aerospace vehicle, the hinge line being nonparallel with the first hinge axis; and
at least one self-aligning mechanism coupled between the first flow body and the second flow body, the at least one self-aligning mechanism being positioned to allow the second flow body to rotate about the hinge line and the first and second hinge axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An aerospace vehicle system, comprising:
-
a first flow body coupleable to an aerospace vehicle;
a second flow body having a chord line and being rotatably coupled to the first flow body at a hinge point positioned away from the chord line, the hinge point having a hinge axis, the second flow body being rotatable about a hinge line between a first position and a second position, the hinge line extending through the hinge point, but being nonparallel with the hinge axis; and
at least one self-aligning mechanism coupled between the first flow body and the second flow body, the at least one self-aligning mechanism being positioned to allow the second flow body to rotate about the hinge line and the hinge axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for making an aerospace vehicle system, comprising:
-
rotatably coupling a second flow body to a first flow body at a hinge point positioned away from a chord line of the second flow body, the hinge point having a hinge axis, the first flow body being coupleable to an aerospace vehicle; and
coupling at least one self-aligning mechanism between the first flow body and the second flow body so that the second flow body simultaneously rotates about a hinge line and the hinge axis as the second flow body moves between a first position and a second position, the hinge line extending through the hinge point, but being nonparallel with the hinge axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification