Notched blade seal for high performance aircraft

• US 6,883,806 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Guzzardo, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L.
• Application Number:
  US09/964,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 277/628, 277/630, 277/637, 277/641, 277/644, 277/650, 277/652, 277/653, 277/654
• US Class Current: 277/628
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/50 by leading or trailing edge flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 7/00 Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/02 Mounting or supporting thereof

Abstract

A notched blade seal for covering a gap between a wing and a wing flap of a high performance aircraft includes a bottom seal strip of a flexible, resilient material having a plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of finger portions, and a top seal strip, also of a flexible, resilient material having a plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of finger portions. The top seal strip overlies and engages the bottom seal strip and is positioned relative to the bottom seal strip such that the finger portions of the top seal strip overlie and cover the notches in the bottom seal strip.

Claims

1. A notched blade seal for covering a gap between a wing and a wing flap of a high performance aircraft, comprising:

a bottom seal strip of a flexible, resilient material having a generally right triangle cross-section configuration and a plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of finger portions, and

a top seal strip of a flexible, resilient material having a generally right triangle cross-section configuration similar to the bottom seal strip and also having a plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of finger portions,

the top seal strip overlying and engaging the bottom seal strip along one leg of the generally right triangle cross-section configuration and being positioned relative to the bottom seal strip such that the fingers of the top seal strip overlie and cover the notches in the bottom seal strip.

2. The notched blade seal according to claim 1, wherein the notches in each seal strip are uniformly spaced apart.

3. The notched blade seal according to claim 1, wherein the notches in the top seal strip comprise a triangular configuration in plan and arranged with a base of the triangle at the edge of the strip and the apex spaced apart from the edge.

4. The notched blade seal according to claim 3, wherein the triangular notches in the top seal strip comprise isosceles triangles.

5. The notched blade seal according to claim 1, wherein each seal strip comprises a uniform width along the longitudinal extent, and wherein the notches and fingers are along the thinner edge of the right triangle configuration.

6. A notched blade seal for covering a gap between a wing and a wing flap of a high performance aircraft, comprising:

an elongated bottom seal strip having a generally right triangle cross-section configuration and a plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of spaced-apart finger portions, and

an elongated top seal strip having a generally right triangle cross-section configuration similar to the bottom seal strip and also having a plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of finger portions,

the top seal strip overlying and engaging the bottom seal strip along one leg of the generally right triangle cross-section configuration and being positioned relative to the bottom seal strip such that the fingers of the top seal strip overlie and cover the notches in the bottom seal strip,

each seal strip having a substantially uniform width along a longitudinal extent and being tapered widthwise from a thicker edge to a thinner edge, and

the notches and fingers being along the thinner edge.

7. The notched blade seal according to claim 6, wherein the notches in each seal strip are uniformly spaced apart.

8. The notched blade seal according to claim 6, wherein the notches in the seal strips comprise a shape to reduce RF energy.

9. The notched blade seal according to claim 6, wherein the notches in the top seal strip comprise an isosceles triangular configuration in plan and spaced apart to reduce RF energy, further the notches in the top seal strip are arranged with a base of the triangle at the edge of the strip and the apex spaced apart from the edge.