Methods and apparatuses for controlling airflow proximate to engine/airfoil systems
First Claim
1. An aircraft system comprising:
- an airfoil;
an engine unit having a housing at least proximate to the airfoil with a gap extending between a portion of the airfoil and a portion of the housing of the engine unit; and
a flow control device proximate to the gap and positionable among at least three stationary positions, including;
a retracted position in which the gap has a first area through which fluid flows during flight;
a first extended position in which the gap is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed during flight; and
a second extended position in which the gap has a second area through which fluid flows during flight, the second area being smaller than the first area.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for controlling airflow proximate to engine/airfoil systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an aircraft system includes an airfoil and an engine unit at least proximate to the airfoil with a gap between a portion of the airfoil and a portion of the engine unit. The system can further include a flow control device proximate to the gap and positionable among at least three stationary positions, including a retracted position in which the gap has a first area through which fluid can flow, a first extended position in which the gap is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed, and a second extended position in which the gap has a second smaller area through which fluid can flow. A control system can be coupled to the flow control device to move the flow control device among these positions.
181 Citations
40 Claims
-
1. An aircraft system comprising:
-
an airfoil; an engine unit having a housing at least proximate to the airfoil with a gap extending between a portion of the airfoil and a portion of the housing of the engine unit; and a flow control device proximate to the gap and positionable among at least three stationary positions, including; a retracted position in which the gap has a first area through which fluid flows during flight; a first extended position in which the gap is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed during flight; and a second extended position in which the gap has a second area through which fluid flows during flight, the second area being smaller than the first area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An aircraft system comprising:
-
an airfoil; an engine unit at least proximate to the airfoil, the engine unit including a pylon and a housing, the engine unit being coupled to the airfoil via the pylon, the engine unit being positioned under the airfoil with a portion of the engine unit extending forward of a leading edge of the airfoil, a gap extending between a portion of the housing and a portion of the leading edge of the airfoil; a flow control device coupled to the airfoil and having multiple flow surface sections movable relative to each other, the flow control device being positionable among at least three stationary positions, including; a retracted position in which the gap has a first area through which fluid can flow; a first extended position in which the gap is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed; and a second extended position in which the gap has a second area through which fluid can flow, the second area being smaller than the first area; and a control system coupled to the flow control device to position the flow control device among the retracted, first extended, and second extended positions, the control system including; a first actuator coupled to the flow control device to position the flow control device between the retracted and first extended positions; and a second actuator coupled to the flow control device to position the flow control device between the first and second extended positions. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
-
24. An aircraft system comprising:
-
an airfoil; an engine unit at least proximate to the airfoil with a gap between a portion of the airfoil and a portion of the engine unit; and a flow control means for controlling the flow of fluid through the gap, the flow control means having at least three stationary positions, including; a retracted position in which the gap has a first area through which fluid can flow; a first extended position in which the gap is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed; and a second extended position in which the gap has a second area through which fluid can flow, the second area being smaller than the first area. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
-
26. A method for making an aircraft system comprising:
-
installing a flow control device at least proximate to an airfoil and an engine unit having a housing; coupling a control system to the flow control device; and configuring the control system to position the flow control device among at least three stationary positions, including; a retracted position in which a gap extending between a portion of the airfoil and a portion of the housing of the engine unit has a first area through which fluid flows during flight; a first extended position in which the gap is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed during flight; and a second extended position in which the gap has a second area through which fluid flows during flight, the second area being smaller than the first area. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A method for operating an aircraft comprising:
-
positioning a flow control device of the aircraft in a first extended position in which a gap extending between a portion of an airfoil and a portion of a housing of an engine unit is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed during flight; flying the aircraft with the flow control device in the first extended position; positioning the flow control device of the aircraft in a retracted position in which the gap has a first area through which air flows during flight; flying the aircraft with the flow control device in the retracted position; positioning the flow control device of the aircraft in a second extended position in which the gap has a second area through which air flows during flight, the second area being smaller than the first area; and flying the aircraft with the flow control device in the second extended position. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
-
Specification