Movable surface plane

• US 6,622,973 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Original Assignee: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Inventors: Al-Garni, Ahmed Z., Al-Qutub, Amro M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US10/187,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20020179777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 244/206, 244/207, 244/209, 244/219, 244/130, 244/134
• US Class Current: 244/206
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/40 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 21/025 for simultaneous blowing and sucking
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/04 by actively generating fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/06 by explicitly adjusting fluid flow, e.g. by using valves, variable aperture or slot areas, variable pump action or variable fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/16 by blowing other fluids over the surface than air, e.g. He, H, O2 or exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/22 by using a surface having multiple apertures of relatively small openings other than slots
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/28 at propeller or rotor blades
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 23/02 by means of rotating members of cylindrical or similar form
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/141 Circulation Control Airfoils
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/06 Rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/30 Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/32 with roughened surface
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/97 Reducing windage losses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction

Abstract

Movable surface planes include opposed independently movable endless surfaces over the majority of opposite sides of the planes. By moving one surface in the same direction as the fluid flow about the plane, and the opposite surface in a direction opposite the fluid flow, the flow is accelerated across the surface moving in the same direction to produce a lesser pressure, and retarded across the surface moving in the opposite direction to produce a greater pressure. The net result is a force urging the plane toward the surface moving in the direction of ambient fluid flow. The two surfaces of the present invention may be operated independently of one another, to move in the same or opposite directions and to have the same or different velocities. The movable surfaces are porous and communicate with ductwork within the structure, to provide fluid flow through the surfaces for boundary layer control.

Claims

1. A movable surface plane, comprising:

a structure having a span, a chord length, a thickness, a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite said leading edge, an outer first surface, and an outer second surface opposite said first surface;

at least one forward roller and at least one rearward roller disposed within said structure;

at least one endless, porous belt extending around said at least one forward and said at least one rearward roller and defining at least one said outer surface of said structure; and

at least one fluid flow distribution system for selectively distributing fluid flow through said at least one porous belt.

2. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one forward roller comprises forward first and second surface rollers;

said at least one rearward roller comprises rearward first and second surface rollers; and

said at least one endless, porous belt comprises at least one endless first surface belt extending around said forward and said rearward first surface rollers and defining said first surface of said structure, and at least one endless second surface belt extending around said forward and said rearward second surface rollers and defining said second surface of said structure.

3. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, further including a plurality of first surface belts and a plurality of second surface belts disposed within said structure.

4. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, wherein each said belt has a roughened texture.

5. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, wherein said structure is an airfoil.

6. The movable surface plane according to claim 5, wherein said airfoil is swept.

7. The movable surface plane according to claim 5, wherein said airfoil is tapered.

8. The movable surface plane according to claim 5, further including:

at least one movable control surface extending from said airfoil; and

at least one movable surface disposed in said control surface.

9. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, further including:

a motor for powering at least one of said at least one forward roller and at least one rearward roller, for actuating said at least one endless, porous belt as desired for varying fluid dynamic pressures developed thereon.

10. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, further including:

at least one motor for controlling fluid flow through said at least one porous belt; and

ductwork extending between said motor and said at least one porous belt for controlling fluid flow.

11. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, further including fluid temperature control means for controlling the temperature of fluid flowing through said at least one porous belt.

12. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, wherein said structure is a wind generator blade.

13. The movable surface plane according to claim 1, wherein said structure is a maritime vessel control surface.

14. An aircraft with a movable surface plane, comprising:

an aircraft having a fuselage;

at least one airfoil attached to the fuslage and having a span, a chord length, a thickness, a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite said leading edge, an outer first surface, and an outer second surface opposite said first surface;

at least one forward roller and at least one rearward roller disposed within said airfoil;

at least one endless, porous belt extending around said at least one forward and said at least one rearward roller and defining at least one said outer surface of said airfoil; and

at least one fluid flow distribution system for selectively distributing fluid flow through said porous belt.

15. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein:

said at least one forward roller comprises forward first and second surface rollers;

said at least one rearward roller comprises rearward first and second surface rollers; and

said at least one endless, porous belt comprises at least one endless first surface belt extending around said forward and said rearward first surface rollers and defining said first surface of said structure, and at least one endless second surface belt extending around said forward and said rearward second surface rollers and defining said second surface of said structure.

16. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein said airfoil includes a plurality of first surface belts and a plurality of second surface belts disposed therein.

17. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein each said belt has a roughened texture.

18. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein said airfoil is swept.

19. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein said airfoil is tapered.

20. The aircraft according to claim 14, further including:

at least one movable control surface extending from said airfoil; and

at least one movable surface disposed in said control surface.

21. The aircraft according to claim 20, wherein said movable control surface is selected from the group consisting of ailerons, flaps, elevators, and rudders.

22. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein said airfoil is selected from the group consisting of wings, horizontal stabilizer and control surfaces, and vertical stabilizer and control surfaces.

23. The aircraft according to claim 14, further including:

means for powering at least one said first surface roller and at least one second surface roller, for actuating said first surface and said second surface.

24. The aircraft according to claim 14, further including:

means for remotely and selectively controlling said first surface and said second surface as desired for varying aerodynamic pressures developed thereon.

25. The aircraft according to claim 14, further including:

a motor for powering at least one of said at least one forward roller and at least one rearward roller, for actuating said at least one endless, porous belt as desired for varying fluid dynamic pressures developed thereon.

26. The aircraft according to claim 14, further including:

at least one motor for controlling fluid flow through said at least one porous belt; and

ductwork extending between said motor and said at least one porous belt for controlling fluid flow.

27. The aircraft according to claim 14, further including fluid temperature control means for controlling the temperature of fluid flowing through said at least one porous belt.