Seal assemblies for use with drooped spoilers and other control surfaces on aircraft
First Claim
1. A seal assembly for use with an aircraft, the aircraft having a movable control surface spaced apart from a fixed airfoil portion to define a gap therebetween, the seal assembly comprising:
- a first seal member having a first proximal portion and a first distal portion, wherein the first proximal portion is configured to be fixedly attached to the fixed airfoil portion and the first distal portion is configured to extend outwardly from the fixed airfoil portion toward the movable control surface; and
a second seal member having a second proximal portion and a second distal portion, wherein the second proximal portion is configured to be fixedly attached to the movable control surface and the second distal portion is configured to extend outwardly from the movable control surface toward the fixed airfoil portion, and wherein the second distal portion is further configured to movably contact the first distal portion of the first seal member to at least partially cover the gap between the fixed airfoil portion and the movable control surface as the movable control surface moves relative to the fixed airfoil portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aerodynamic seals for use with control surfaces on aircraft are described herein. In one embodiment, a seal assembly for use with an aircraft includes a first seal member and a second seal member. The first seal member has a first proximal portion configured to be attached to a fixed airfoil portion of the aircraft, and a first distal portion configured to extend outwardly from the fixed airfoil portion toward a movable control surface. The second seal member has a second proximal portion configured to be attached to the movable control surface, and a second distal portion configured to extend outwardly from the control surface toward the fixed airfoil portion. In this embodiment, the second distal portion is further configured to movably contact the first distal portion to at least partially seal the gap between the fixed airfoil portion and the movable control surface as the control surface moves relative to the fixed airfoil portion.
133 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A seal assembly for use with an aircraft, the aircraft having a movable control surface spaced apart from a fixed airfoil portion to define a gap therebetween, the seal assembly comprising:
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a first seal member having a first proximal portion and a first distal portion, wherein the first proximal portion is configured to be fixedly attached to the fixed airfoil portion and the first distal portion is configured to extend outwardly from the fixed airfoil portion toward the movable control surface; and
a second seal member having a second proximal portion and a second distal portion, wherein the second proximal portion is configured to be fixedly attached to the movable control surface and the second distal portion is configured to extend outwardly from the movable control surface toward the fixed airfoil portion, and wherein the second distal portion is further configured to movably contact the first distal portion of the first seal member to at least partially cover the gap between the fixed airfoil portion and the movable control surface as the movable control surface moves relative to the fixed airfoil portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for sealing a gap between a movable control surface and a fixed airfoil portion on an aircraft, the method comprising:
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fixedly attaching a first proximal portion of a first seal member to the fixed airfoil portion, whereby a first distal portion of the first seal member extends outwardly from the fixed airfoil portion toward the movable control surface;
pressing against the first distal portion of the first seal member with a second distal portion of a second seal member; and
fixedly attaching a second proximal portion of the second seal member to the movable control surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An aircraft having a system for sealing a gap between a movable control surface and a fixed airfoil portion, the system comprising:
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first seal means configured to be fixedly attached to the fixed airfoil portion;
second seal means configured to be fixedly attached to the movable control surface; and
means for pressing a first distal portion of the first seal means against a second distal portion of the second seal means to maintain contact between the first and second seal means and at least partially cover the gap as the movable control surface moves in a first direction relative to the fixed airfoil portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification