Trailing edge device catchers and associated systems and methods
First Claim
1. An aircraft system, comprising:
- a wing having a wing support;
a trailing edge device carried by and movable relative to the wing, the trailing edge device having a device support;
a coupling connected between the wing and the trailing edge device, the coupling including;
a pivot joint that includes a pivot element aligned along a pivot axis and connected between the wing support and the device support;
an actuator coupled between the wing and the trailing edge device, the actuator having a first position in which the trailing edge device is stowed, and a second position in which the trailing edge device is deployed, with an airflow gap located between the wing and the trailing edge device when the trailing edge device is in the second position;
a cam track carried by one of the wing and the trailing edge device and having opposing cam track surfaces fixed relative to each other; and
a cam carried by the other of the wing and the trailing edge device and positioned within the cam track between the opposing cam track surfaces, the cam being offset from the pivot axis, wherein during normal operation the cam carries no load or a first load along a load path that includes the cam track, and wherein the cam carries a second non-zero load greater than the first load along the load path when a decrease in support provided by at least one of the pivot element, the wing support and the device support occurs.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Trailing edge device catchers and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a wing having a wing support, a trailing edge device carried by and movable relative to the wing and having a device support, and a coupling connected between the wing and the trailing edge device. The coupling can include a pivot joint that includes a pivot element aligned along a pivot axis and connected between the wing support and the device support. The coupling can further include an actuator coupled between the wing and the trailing edge device, with the actuator having a first position in which the trailing edge device is stowed, and a second position in which the trailing edge device is deployed, with an air flow gap located between the wing and the trailing edge device when the trailing edge device is in the second position. A cam track is carried by one of the wing and the trailing edge device and has opposing cam track surfaces fixed relative to each other. A cam is carried by the other of the wing and trailing edge device and is positioned within the cam track between the opposing cam track surfaces. The cam is offset from the pivot axis and during normal operation the cam can carry no load or a first load along a load path that includes the cam track, and when a decrease in support provided by at least one of the pivot element, the wing support and the device support occurs, the cam can carry a second non-zero load greater than the first load along the load path.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An aircraft system, comprising:
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a wing having a wing support; a trailing edge device carried by and movable relative to the wing, the trailing edge device having a device support; a coupling connected between the wing and the trailing edge device, the coupling including; a pivot joint that includes a pivot element aligned along a pivot axis and connected between the wing support and the device support; an actuator coupled between the wing and the trailing edge device, the actuator having a first position in which the trailing edge device is stowed, and a second position in which the trailing edge device is deployed, with an airflow gap located between the wing and the trailing edge device when the trailing edge device is in the second position; a cam track carried by one of the wing and the trailing edge device and having opposing cam track surfaces fixed relative to each other; and a cam carried by the other of the wing and the trailing edge device and positioned within the cam track between the opposing cam track surfaces, the cam being offset from the pivot axis, wherein during normal operation the cam carries no load or a first load along a load path that includes the cam track, and wherein the cam carries a second non-zero load greater than the first load along the load path when a decrease in support provided by at least one of the pivot element, the wing support and the device support occurs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An aircraft system, comprising:
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a wing having a wing external contour and a wing support; a trailing edge device carried by and movable relative to the wing, the trailing edge device having a device support and a device external contour, the wing external contour and the device external contour together forming at least in part a composite contour; a coupling connected between the wing and the trailing edge device, the coupling including; a pivot joint that includes a pin aligned along a pivot axis and connected between the wing support and the device support, the pivot axis being located outside the composite contour; an actuator coupled between the wing and the trailing edge device, the actuator having a first position in which the trailing edge device is stowed and a second position in which the trailing edge device is deployed, with an airflow gap located between the wing and the trailing edge device when the trailing edge device is in the deployed position; first and second generally parallel, laterally offset cam tracks carried by the wing; first and second cams carried by the trailing edge device, each engaged with a corresponding one of the first and second cam tracks; a third cam track carried by the wing, the third cam track being offset from the pivot axis and being curved at a constant radius about the pivot axis; and a third cam carried by the trailing edge device and positioned within the third cam track, the third cam being out of contact with the surfaces of the third cam track during normal operation, and being in contact with the third cam track when a decrease in support occurs for at least one of the pin, the wing bracket and the device bracket. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for operating an aircraft system, comprising:
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movably supporting a trailing edge device relative to a wing with a coupling that includes a wing support, a device support, and a pivot element pivotably coupled between the wing support and the device support, the wing having one of a cam track and a cam and the trailing edge device having the other of the cam track and the cam, the cam track having opposing fixed cam track surfaces, the cam being positioned between the cam track surfaces; during normal operation, pivoting the trailing edge device about the pivot element while the cam carries no load or a first load along a load path that includes the cam track; and if support provided by the coupling decreases, supporting the trailing edge device relative to the wing while the cam carries a second non-zero load greater than the first load along the load path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An aircraft system, comprising:
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a wing having a wing support; a trailing edge device carried by and movable relative to the wing, the trailing edge device having a device support; a coupling connected between the wing and the trailing edge device, the coupling including; a pivot joint that includes a pivot element aligned along a pivot axis and connected between the wing support and the device support; an actuator coupled between the wing and the trailing edge device, the actuator having a first position in which the trailing edge device is stowed, and a second position in which the trailing edge device is deployed; and a catcher that includes a first element carried by one of the wing and the trailing edge device and having a track, and a second element carried by the other of the wing and the trailing edge device and positioned at the track, the second element being offset from the pivot axis, wherein during normal operation the second element carries no load or a first load along a load path that includes the track, and wherein the second element carries a second non-zero load greater than the first load along the load path when a decrease in support provided by at least one of the pivot element, the wing support and the device support occurs.
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Specification