FOLDING WING FOR AIRCRAFT
First Claim
1. A foldable wing for an aircraft, comprising:
- a mounting member mountable on a fuselage of the aircraft and having a mount axis;
first and second inboard wing sections;
first and second outboard wing sections;
a centerline hinge assembly comprising;
first and second centerline hinge members, the first and second centerline hinge members being;
coupled to the mounting member;
respectively connected to the first and second inboard wing sections; and
movable in rotation about the mount axis and in translation along the mount axis, between stowed and deployed inboard wing section positions, with at least one of the first or second centerline hinge members being translationally moveable along the mount axis;
a centerline bias member applying rotational force to the first and second centerline hinge members and translational force to at least one of the first or second centerline hinge members, to bias the first and second centerline hinge members from the stowed inboard wing section position toward the deployed inboard wing section position; and
first and second wing hinge assemblies respectively comprising;
first and second inboard hinge members respectively connected to the first and second inboard wing sections;
first and second outboard hinge members, the first and second outboard hinge members being;
respectively connected to the first and second outboard wing sections;
respectively coupled to the first and second inboard hinge members; and
rotatably moveable about respective first and second wing axes between stowed and deployed outboard wing section positions, with at least one of the first or second inboard or outboard hinge members being translationally moveable along the wing axes;
first and second wing bias members, the first and second wing bias members;
being respectively coupled to the first and second inboard hinge members and to the first and second outboard hinge members; and
respectively applying, to the first and second inboard and outboard hinge members, rotational and translational force to bias the first and second outboard hinge members from the stowed outboard wing section position toward the deployed outboard wing section position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A folding wing for an aircraft comprises first and second inboard wing sections, and first and second outboard wing sections. The first and second inboard wing sections rotate about a centerline hinge, and a centerline spring applies force to the first and second inboard wing sections to rotate the first and second inboard wing sections from a stowed position to a deployed position. At least one of the first and second inboard wing sections translates along the axis of rotation of the first and second inboard wing sections as they move from the stowed to the deployed positions. The first and second outboard wing sections rotate between the stowed and the deployed positions about first and second outboard hinges.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A foldable wing for an aircraft, comprising:
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a mounting member mountable on a fuselage of the aircraft and having a mount axis; first and second inboard wing sections; first and second outboard wing sections; a centerline hinge assembly comprising; first and second centerline hinge members, the first and second centerline hinge members being; coupled to the mounting member; respectively connected to the first and second inboard wing sections; and movable in rotation about the mount axis and in translation along the mount axis, between stowed and deployed inboard wing section positions, with at least one of the first or second centerline hinge members being translationally moveable along the mount axis; a centerline bias member applying rotational force to the first and second centerline hinge members and translational force to at least one of the first or second centerline hinge members, to bias the first and second centerline hinge members from the stowed inboard wing section position toward the deployed inboard wing section position; and first and second wing hinge assemblies respectively comprising; first and second inboard hinge members respectively connected to the first and second inboard wing sections; first and second outboard hinge members, the first and second outboard hinge members being; respectively connected to the first and second outboard wing sections; respectively coupled to the first and second inboard hinge members; and rotatably moveable about respective first and second wing axes between stowed and deployed outboard wing section positions, with at least one of the first or second inboard or outboard hinge members being translationally moveable along the wing axes; first and second wing bias members, the first and second wing bias members; being respectively coupled to the first and second inboard hinge members and to the first and second outboard hinge members; and respectively applying, to the first and second inboard and outboard hinge members, rotational and translational force to bias the first and second outboard hinge members from the stowed outboard wing section position toward the deployed outboard wing section position.
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2. Hinge apparatus for an aircraft with a foldable wing, comprising:
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a first hinge member, comprising; a first connection section connected to a first portion of the wing; and a first mating section; a second hinge member, comprising; a second connection section connected to a second portion of the wing; and a second mating section coupled to the first mating section and movable, in rotation about an axis and in translation along the axis, between stowed and deployed positions; and a bias member applying rotational and translational force on the second hinge member, to bias the second mating section from the stowed position toward the deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Hinge apparatus for a folding wing, comprising:
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inboard and outboard hinge members, the inboard and outboard hinge members; being respectively connectable to associated inboard and outboard wing sections; being coupled together; and being rotatably moveable about an axis between stowed and deployed wing positions, at least one of the inboard and outboard hinge members being translationally moveable along the axis between the stowed and the deployed positions; and a bias member coupled to the inboard and outboard hinge members and applying rotational and translational force to bias the inboard and outboard hinge members from the stowed wing position toward the deployed wing position.
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Specification