And Suction Patents (Class 244/208)
  • Patent number: 11673651
    Abstract: A leading edge structure for a flow control system of an aircraft is disclosed having a leading edge panel that surrounds a plenum, wherein the leading edge panel has a first side portion, a second side portion opposite the first side portion, an inner surface facing the plenum and an outer surface in contact with an ambient flow, and wherein the leading edge panel comprises a plurality of micro pores forming a fluid connection between the plenum and the ambient flow, wherein the plenum is connected to an air outlet arrangement configured for causing an underpressure in the plenum, so that air from the ambient flow is drawn through the micro pores into the plenum and from there discharged through the air outlet arrangement into the ambient flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Büscher
  • Patent number: 11667387
    Abstract: A system for suction of the boundary layer of a wing and protection against icing of this wing includes a wall including micro-perforations and delimiting a leading edge extended by a pressure-side wall and by a suction-side wall. The system also includes a perforated tube running along the leading edge, an exhaust duction for sucking air from this tube in order to suck the boundary layer successively via the micro-perforations of the wall and via the perforations of the tube, and a supply duct for blowing hot air into this perforated tube during a phase of protection against icing, this hot air being discharged successively via the perforations of the tube and via the micro-perforations of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SONACA S.A.
    Inventors: Said Elmouden, Nicolas Dellisse
  • Patent number: 11498660
    Abstract: A hybrid wing aircraft has an engine embedded into a body of the hybrid wing aircraft. The embedded engine has a fan that is received within a nacelle. The body of the aircraft provides a boundary layer over a circumferential portion of a fan. A system delivers additional air to correct fan stability issues raised by the boundary layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Razvan Virgil Florea, William T. Cousins, Thomas G. Tillman, David J. Arend, John D. Wolter
  • Patent number: 11338909
    Abstract: A combination of an airfoil, turbine blade, or compressor blade with a flow separation control device includes an airfoil, a flow separation control device, and an injection system. The airfoil includes a body with an upper surface and a lower surface that extend from a leading edge to a trailing edge. The flow separation control device includes a plurality of openings on the upper surface of the body. The injection system includes an inlet tube, a pump in gaseous communication with the inlet tube, and a flow regulator in gaseous communication with the pump and the plurality of capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Khaled Abdullah Alhussan
  • Patent number: 11174032
    Abstract: An aircraft structure, for example a wing, including a skin. The skin has an external surface, on an outer face of the skin. The skin has an internal surface, located opposite the external surface on an inner face of the skin. The aircraft structure includes a laminar flow control system including a compressor. The aircraft structure is so arranged that the exhaust air from the compressor is directed onto the internal surface of the skin of the aircraft structure, for example thus providing hot exhaust air which function as an ice protection system (whether by de-icing or anti-icing). A method of providing ice protection on a surface of an aircraft using exhaust air from a laminar flow control compressor is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Henry Edwards
  • Patent number: 11034430
    Abstract: Fluid systems are described herein. An example embodiment of a fluid system has a first body portion, a second body portion, a plurality of supports, a plurality of fluid pressurizers, and a plurality of ducts. The first body portion and the second body portion cooperatively define an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel that extends from the injection opening to the suction opening. The fluid pressurizer is disposed within the channel cooperatively defined by the first body portion and the second body portion. Each duct of the plurality of ducts is disposed within the channel cooperatively defined by the first body portion and the second body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: COFLOW JET, LLC
    Inventor: Gecheng Zha
  • Patent number: 10801325
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil which includes pressure and suction side surfaces joined at leading and trailing edges to provide an exterior airfoil surface. The airfoil extends from a 0% span position to a 100% span position at a tip. A mean chamber line is provided at the tip and extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The mean chamber line has a leading edge tangent line at the leading edge at the tip and a trailing edge tangent line at the trailing edge at the tip. The leading edge tangent line and the trailing edge tangent line intersect to provide a total camber angle in a range of ?35° to 35°. The pressure side includes a tip shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dominic J. Mongillo, Scott D. Lewis, Jeffrey T. Morton
  • Patent number: 10723443
    Abstract: A boundary-layer-influencing aerodynamic part comprises a carrier element provided with at least one air passage aperture for guiding an air flow through the carrier element, an air guiding layer disposed on the carrier element and a cover layer constituting at least a part of a flow surface and being configured to have air flow there through at least in sections. The air guiding layer is configured to have air flow there through with an air flow supplied to the part, at least in certain operating phases of the part, through the cover layer and flowing in the direction of the carrier element or through the air passage aperture of the carrier element and flowing in the direction of the cover layer. The cover layer is applied directly to the air guiding layer via an additive manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Ruppert, Volker Robrecht
  • Patent number: 10683076
    Abstract: Fluid systems are described herein. An example embodiment of a fluid system has a first body portion, a second body portion, a plurality of supports, a plurality of fluid pressurizers, and a plurality of ducts. The first body portion and the second body portion cooperatively define an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel that extends from the injection opening to the suction opening. The fluid pressurizer is disposed within the channel cooperatively defined by the first body portion and the second body portion. Each duct of the plurality of ducts is disposed within the channel cooperatively defined by the first body portion and the second body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: COFLOW JET, LLC
    Inventor: Gecheng Zha
  • Patent number: 10683077
    Abstract: Fluid systems are described herein. An example embodiment of a fluid system has a first body portion, a second body portion, a plurality of supports, a plurality of fluid pressurizers, and a plurality of ducts. The first body portion and the second body portion cooperatively define an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel that extends from the injection opening to the suction opening. The fluid pressurizer is disposed within the channel cooperatively defined by the first body portion and the second body portion. Each duct of the plurality of ducts is disposed within the channel cooperatively defined by the first body portion and the second body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: COFLOW JET, LLC
    Inventor: Gecheng Zha
  • Patent number: 10683845
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and kits for reducing structural vibrations on wind turbine blades are provided. The actual dynamic structural conditions of a wind turbine blade can be used as a feedback mechanism. A flow control device and a sensor can be installed on a wind turbine blade, and a closed loop control system in operable communication with the flow control device and the sensor can be used to provide closed loop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Keith Taylor, Michael Amitay
  • Patent number: 10662987
    Abstract: A device including a resonant array of a plurality of synthetic jet generators where neighboring jet generators are coupled, resulting in the potential for constructive and destructive interference between jets of the plurality of synthetic jet generators depending on the relative phase of a corresponding plurality of drive signals to plurality of synthetic jet generators. The device also includes a controller configured to control the relative phase of the corresponding plurality of drive signals to effect a change in a first jet emitted by a first synthetic jet generator of the plurality of synthetic jets by changing a given phase of a second jet emitted by a second synthetic jet generator of the plurality of synthetic jet generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Brzozowski, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Patent number: 10634197
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Patent number: 10605280
    Abstract: A device including a resonant array of a plurality of synthetic jet generators where neighboring jet generators are coupled, resulting in the potential for constructive and destructive interference between jets of the plurality of synthetic jet generators depending on the relative phase of a corresponding plurality of drive signals to plurality of synthetic jet generators. The device also includes a controller configured to control the relative phase of the corresponding plurality of drive signals to effect a change in a first jet emitted by a first synthetic jet generator of the plurality of synthetic jets by changing a given phase of a second jet emitted by a second synthetic jet generator of the plurality of synthetic jet generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Brzozowski, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Patent number: 10328765
    Abstract: A device for distribution of conditioning air for vehicle turret comprises at least one air duct sheath, the sheath comprising a chute adapted to be made integral with the vehicle and a shutter adapted to be made integral with the turret. The sheath is the form of an arch of circle coaxial with the rotation axis of turret. The device comprises at least one duct in the form of an arch of circle having the same average radius as that of the sheath and able to slide with respect to the sheath between a closed position in which the duct connects one end of the sheath to another end of said sheath, or to another sheath, for continuity of airflow between the sheaths, and an open position in which the duct is slid within the sheath so as to leave a passage transverse to the sheath along a circular sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Xavier Descatoire, Aymeric Peloux
  • Patent number: 10227138
    Abstract: An aircraft compensates for asymmetry of engine failure by drawing part of the energy produced by the still-operating engine to generate thrust at the tip of the opposite wing. For example, the left engine drives its own thrust on the left wing, but a portion of the energy the left engine produces is delivered at a propeller at the tip of right wing. Similarly, the right engine drives its own thrust on the right wing, but a portion of the energy the right engine produces is delivered at a propeller at the tip of the left wing. In this way, every pair of engines and opposite tip thrust generators are intrinsically balanced. In the event of one engine failure, no yaw moment will be noticed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Embraer S.A.
    Inventor: Ierko De Magalhães Gomes
  • Patent number: 10099771
    Abstract: An aircraft, an aircraft wing structure and a method are provided in order to address lift and drag, such as by increasing lift and reducing drag. In the context of an aircraft wing structure, the aircraft wing structure includes a wing extending outboard from a fuselage of an aircraft. The wing also extends from a leading edge to a trailing edge. The aircraft wing structure also includes one or more actuators carried by the wing and causing fluid to be directed through one or more respective orifices defined by the wing so as to alter flow over a lower surface of the wing. The one or more orifices that are defined by the wing are closer to the leading edge than to the trailing edge. Thus, the fluid introduced through the one or more orifices may increase lift and reduce drag of the associated aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arvin Shmilovich, Yoram Yadlin
  • Patent number: 10054048
    Abstract: An apparatus for suppressing shock-induced separation of high speed airflow from a relatively low-energy boundary layer. The apparatus may include an actuator or array of actuators configured to alternately inhale and exhale fluid and positioned to alternately inhale fluid from and exhale fluid into a boundary layer of a fluid mass flowing along the wall. The actuator may be positioned to inhale fluid from a boundary layer separation bubble induced by a supersonic shock wave propagated in the fluid mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Dan J. Baruzzini, Daniel N. Miller, Neal D. Domel, Jeff G. Hakes
  • Patent number: 9653637
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises photovoltaic cells provided on a first rotatable member, an electric motor having an axial shaft, and a second rotatable member provided with an impeller. The photovoltaic cells capture and convert the solar energy into electrical energy. The electric motor is connected to and is in electric communication with the photovoltaic cells for powering the electric motor. The electric motor converts the electrical energy into mechanical energy for rotating the photovoltaic cells in a first direction about a central axis and for rotating the axial shaft connected to an impeller in a second direction about the central axis. The rotating axial shaft rotates the impeller at high revolutions per minute which generates a flow of air that is directed to the rotating photovoltaic cells on the first rotatable member. The photovoltaic cells are cooled by the air-flow and operate at a lower temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventors: William Edward Lee, Robert F. Pienkowski
  • Patent number: 9637229
    Abstract: A rotorcraft may include an airframe and a rotor connected to the airframe. The rotor may include a plurality of blades defining ducts along the length thereof and vents in fluid communication with the ducts. Flow from through the vents may be controlled by valves with piezoelectric actuators. The valves may be adjusted to achieve a lift profile suited for an operational mode such as vertical, autorotative, or unloaded flight. The lift profile may vary along the length of the blade and may vary cyclically with rotation of the blade. The lift profile may be chosen to approximate a figure of merit for the rotor suitable for a given operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Groen Aeronautics Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Johannes van der Westhuizen
  • Patent number: 9630706
    Abstract: An aircraft having a moveable ejector member for assisting in alleviating a boundary layer flowing along an aircraft surface is disclosed. The moveable ejector member is capable of being placed at a variety of positions between a fully open position and a nested position to entrain the boundary layer with another fluid flow. The ejector member can take the form of an ejector shroud used with a nacelle. In some forms, a gas turbine engine is used to provide an ejector flow to entrain the boundary layer through the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Syed J. Khalid
  • Patent number: 9573678
    Abstract: An aircraft with airfoils having a main wing and at least one control flap arranged such to be adjusted relative to the main wing, as well as a high-lift system with at least one regulating flap for adjusting the lift of the airfoils to adjust the state of lift of the aircraft, featuring flow control devices for influencing the fluid flowing over the surface segment; an activating unit; and a lift state specification device connected to the activating unit for adjusting the state of lift of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Gölling
  • Patent number: 9073628
    Abstract: Generator (1) of synthetic jets (2) for a main flow of fluid, comprising a cavity (10) delimited by a fixed wall (13) and a mobile wall. The fixed wall comprises a sleeve (8) and a head (4) provided with an orifice (14) through which the generated jet of fluid (2) is drawn in from and ejected into the main flow of fluid. The mobile wall is opposite the head. The generator comprises a rigid piston (3) including the mobile wall and sliding in a fluid-tight manner in the sleeve (8), and comprises an actuator mechanically linked with the piston and able to drive the piston with an alternating movement having an amplitude and a frequency. The actuator is capable of providing a movement of variable amplitude and frequency, at least the amplitude being variable during the movement. The actuator comprises a mechanism for the mechanical amplification of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ONERA (Office National D'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales)
    Inventors: Frederic Ternoy, Etienne Uzeel, Didier Landaes
  • Patent number: 9014877
    Abstract: An aircraft with aerofoils including a main wing and a control flap that includes an adjustment flap. The aircraft includes an actuator for the control flap, as well as a sensor device for acquiring the position of the control flap, an arrangement of flow-influencing devices for influencing the fluid that flows over a segment of the main wing, and flow-state sensor devices for measuring the flow state. The aircraft includes a flight control device connected to the sensor device for acquiring the position of the control flap and to the flow-state sensor devices, and connected to the actuator and flow-influencing devices for transmitting actuating commands, and a flight-state sensor device connected to the flight control device for transmitting flight states. The flight control device includes a function that selects the flow-influencing devices that are operated for optimizing local lift coefficients on the aerofoil, depending on the flight state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Gölling, Frank Haucke, Matthias Bauer, Wolfgang Nitsche, Inken Peltzer
  • Patent number: 9004399
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20150083866
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to operate laminar flow control system doors with improved reliability and serviceability are described herein. One described example apparatus includes a fin of an aircraft, a door assembly on a first side of the fin having a first door defining a first opening and second door defining a second opening. The example apparatus also includes a perforated surface proximate a leading edge of the fin and an actuator disposed in the aircraft. The actuator drives a linkage that couples the door to the actuator. The linkage is to operate the door in a first open mode in which the first opening faces in a first direction to create a suction airflow path between the perforated surface and the first opening, and a second open mode in which the second opening faces in a second direction to create a purge airflow path between the second opening and the perforated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Rick A. Biedscheid
  • Patent number: 8931518
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods provide for a flow control actuator having a fluid cavity that is shaped to create periodic waveforms within the resulting resonant actuating flow with predetermined characteristics for actuating a high-speed fluid flow. According to various embodiments, a flow control actuator includes a power source for exciting the actuator fluid at a resonant frequency and a cavity shaped according to resonant macrosonic synthesis principles to maximize the exit velocity of the actuating flow at an orifice of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Edward A. Whalen
  • Patent number: 8876064
    Abstract: An oscillatory vorticity generator device for controlling the flow on an aero- or hydrodynamic surface of an element, the oscillatory vorticity generator device comprising: two main walls, positioned opposite to each other, forming a first pair of walls and two other walls, the four walls each having proximal and distal ends, the distal ends connected to an aero- or hydrodynamic surface; a connection connecting the walls at their proximal ends; and an opening in the aero- or hydrodynamic surface, the opening being substantially contiguous with the two main walls and the two other walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Avraham Seifert, Oksana Stalnov, Ilan Fono, Isaac Dayan, Victor Troshin, Maor Hai Avnaim, Vitali Palei
  • Patent number: 8757556
    Abstract: An aerodynamic body with an aerodynamic body surface that creates a contoured surface for a fluid to stream around, with a device to influence the flow of the fluid streaming around the aerodynamic surface. The flow-influencing device includes a passage to link the fluid streaming around the aerodynamic surface with an actuator space of an aspirating and purging device situated in the aerodynamic body, and an indentation that is situated next to the passage, which is formed by a recessed section of the aerodynamic surface on a flow-influencing region within the contoured surface of the aerodynamic surface, so that a boundary wall is configured as part of the recessed surface lying opposite the indentation. The aspirating and purging device can generate a swirl in the flow of the fluid streaming around the aerodynamic surface, the rotational axis of which is directed along the assumed aerodynamic body chord direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Rist, Andreas Knoll
  • Patent number: 8714945
    Abstract: An air pump positioned within a hollow space in an aerodynamic structure for controlling the flow over an aerodynamic surface thereof, includes a movable member linearly displaced by a very low friction piston mechanism and a compression chamber open to the exterior of the aerodynamic surface through an orifice. Reciprocal displacement of the very low friction movable member changes the volume of the compression chamber to alternately expel fluid (e.g., air) from and pull fluid into the compression chamber through the orifice. The movable member includes a piston oscillating within a piston housing each having an ultra-low friction coating for improved thermal performance and reduced maintenance. Fluid intake to the compression chamber may be increased through the use of a one-way valve located either in the aerodynamic surface, or in the piston. Multiple flapper valves may surround the orifice in the aerodynamic surface for increased fluid control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Terrence S. Birchette
  • Patent number: 8690106
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing a velocity deficit from an aerodynamic body is disclosed. An air jet is injected into an ejector mixing chamber in the aerodynamic body. The air jet creates a suction effect in the ejector mixing chamber, which suctions boundary layer air from a perforated surface in at least one side of the aerodynamic body into a plenum chamber and into the ejector mixing chamber. The air jet ejects the boundary layer air and the air jet from a trailing edge slot of the ejector mixing chamber. Suctioning the boundary layer air and ejecting the boundary layer air and the air jet from the trailing edge slot reduces a velocity deficit on a trailing edge of the aerodynamic body. The reduced velocity deficit and the suctioning of boundary layer air reduce noise, turbulence, blade stress, and blade deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Reissig
  • Patent number: 8690107
    Abstract: A high-lift system with a main wing and adjustable flaps as well as guiding devices for holding the adjustable flaps and adjustment devices for adjusting the adjustable flaps, wherein the respective guiding device and/or adjustment device at least in part include/includes a fairing, including a flow influencing device for influencing the flow around the high-lift system, with at least one inlet line with at least one inlet that is situated on or below the bottom of the high-lift system, wherein, furthermore, at least one outlet line for air is provided that includes a fluid-communicating connection to the inlet line and includes at least one outlet situated at the top in the region of at least one adjustable flap of the high-lift system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Gölling
  • Publication number: 20140061387
    Abstract: A surface element, e.g. a wing, of an aircraft includes a leading edge, a high lift device arrangement positioned along the leading edge and at least one add-on body positioned in a leading edge region, wherein the high lift device arrangement is interrupted in the region of at least one add-on body for preventing collision with the add-on body and wherein the surface element includes an arrangement of openings in a region covering the add-on body, which openings are connected to an air conveying device for conveying air through the openings. Thereby an additional flap for harmonizing the flow above a pylon or other add-on body can be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • Patent number: 8596573
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20130277502
    Abstract: A flow body having a surface, a leading edge has an active flow control system. The active flow control system includes a plurality of openings, at least one control pressure varying device and at least one fluidic actuator with an interaction chamber having an inlet connectable to an air source, at least two outlets and at least two control pressure ports. The openings are distributed along or parallel to the leading edge in a side-by-side relationship and extend through the surface. The control pressure varying device is connected to the at least two control pressure ports in a fluidic manner, wherein the control pressure varying device is adapted to bring about the flow of the fluid at least majoritarily into a respective one of the outlets. Each of the outlets is connected to one individual opening of the plurality of openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Airbus Operations GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130240676
    Abstract: A high lift system with a main wing and control flaps, wherein the respective guiding device are at least partially provided with a fairing, having a flow control device for purposes of controlling the flow around the high lift system with at least two inlet ducts running along the main wing chordwise direction with in each case at least one inlet, which device is located on or underneath the lower surface of the high lift system, wherein at least one outlet duct for air is furthermore provided, which is connected with the inlet ducts in a fluid-communicating manner, and has at least one outlet, which is located on the upper surface of at least one regulating flap and/or with respect to the main wing chordwise direction in the rear third of the main wing of the high lift system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Burkhard Gölling
  • Patent number: 8490926
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies described herein provide for the creation of an actuating fluid flow utilizing a multi-stage actuator. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, a fluid actuation system includes at least two stages, each stage having a plenum and one or two diaphragms acting on the plenum to create an actuating fluid flow. The diaphragms of each stage may be substantially aligned along an axis. The actuating flow is aggregated between stages and expelled into a fluid flow to be controlled. According to various aspects, the diaphragms may include piezoelectric discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dan John Clingman, Edward Andrew Whalen
  • Patent number: 8485476
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft having one or more fixed wings in a flying wing configuration, where the aircraft further includes a high performance co-flow jet (CFJ) circulating about at least a portion of an aircraft surface to produce both lift and thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: University of Miami
    Inventors: Gecheng Zha, Bertrand P. E. Dano
  • Patent number: 8459597
    Abstract: An inlet flow control system disposed within a nacelle includes a panel on an inner surface of that nacelle. The panel includes a noise attenuation layer that dissipates noise energy. A vacuum source generates a pressure differential across the noise attenuation layer for drawing airflow through the panel and away from an inner surface of the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Richard H. Wiley
  • Publication number: 20130062473
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a flow body with a flow surface section that extends in a flow body wingspan direction and a flow body chord direction and with a plurality of fluid lines that lead into the flow surface section and respectively form an opening therein, as well as to a method for taking in and/or blowing out fluid through at least one fluid line that leads into a flow surface section of a flow body and respectively forms an opening therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Burkhard Gölling, Erik Wassen, Tobias Hoell, Frank Thiele
  • Patent number: 8387923
    Abstract: A jet of air is impelled on to the upper surface of a flap in order to increase its lift. Part of the air in this air jet is drawn, through air intakes, from the air stream flowing over an upper surface of the fixed part of the wing, located upstream of the flap. The air jet drawn in by suction by the air intakes is reinforced by a jet of compressed air blown through a passage which opens immediately downstream of the air intakes. This creates a combined jet of the air sucked in and the blown jet, which is ejected on to the upper surface of the flap through outlet apertures located on the rear edge of the fixed part of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Nicola Italo Catino
  • Patent number: 8376285
    Abstract: Active systems and methods for controlling aircraft vortices are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment is directed to an aircraft system that includes an airfoil having first and second oppositely facing flow surfaces and a tip. The system can further include a vortex dissipation device carried by the airfoil, with the vortex dissipation device including an orifice positioned to direct a flow of fluid outwardly from the tip, an actuator operatively coupled to the fluid flow orifice and positioned to change a manner in which flow is directed outwardly from the tip, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator to direct the operation of the actuator. The vortex dissipation device can be activated to accelerate the rate at which vortices (e.g., wing tip vortices) dissipate after they are generated, for example, by alternately pulsing flow inwardly and outwardly through the fluid flow orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arvin Shmilovich, Yoram Yadlin, Roger W Clark
  • Patent number: 8348200
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fluid flow utilizing a synthetic jet actuator, are provided. An example of a synthetic jet actuator system includes a synthetic jet actuator including a dual bimorph subsystem to provide low, medium, and high synthetic jet velocities and/or fine flow control response, and an arc-forming subsystem to provide enhanced pressure, velocity, and mass flow performance, enhanced flow control response, and/or heating of the fluid within the bimorph chamber to extend the performance or operating margin of the dual bimorph subsystem of the synthetic jet actuator. The arc-forming subsystem includes a pair of electrodes interfaced with inner surface walls of the dual bimorph subsystem. Various configurations of power supplies can be utilized to provide simultaneous function to both the subsystem and the arc-forming subsystem to allow selective activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Seyed Gholami Saddoughi, Grover Andrew Bennett
  • Publication number: 20120280088
    Abstract: A method of operating a door assembly may include pivoting a first door about a first pivot axis from a closed position to an open position such that the first door acts as an inlet. The method may further include pivoting the first door to the closed position, and pivoting a second door about a second pivot axis from a closed position to an open position when the first door is in the closed position such that the second door acts as an outlet facing in a direction opposite the first door. The method may additionally include pivoting the second pivot axis about the first pivot axis when pivoting the second door, the second door being of a smaller size than the first door and forming at least a portion of the first door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Seiya Sakurai, Matthew D. Fevergeon
  • Patent number: 8282037
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8262031
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft having one or more fixed wings in a flying wing configuration, where the aircraft further includes a high performance co-flow jet (CFJ) circulating about at least a portion of an aircraft surface to produce both lift and thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: University of Miami
    Inventors: Gecheng Zha, Sebastian Aspe, Joseph John Dussling, Nicholas Ramsay Heinz, Daniel J. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20120223190
    Abstract: An aerodynamic body with an aerodynamic body surface that creates a contoured surface for a fluid to stream around, with a device to influence the flow of the fluid streaming around the aerodynamic surface. The flow-influencing device includes a passage to link the fluid streaming around the aerodynamic surface with an actuator space of an aspirating and purging device situated in the aerodynamic body, and an indentation that is situated next to the passage, which is formed by a recessed section of the aerodynamic surface on a flow-influencing region within the contoured surface of the aerodynamic surface, so that a boundary wall is configured as part of the recessed surface lying opposite the indentation. The aspirating and purging device can generate a swirl in the flow of the fluid streaming around the aerodynamic surface, the rotational axis of which is directed along the assumed aerodynamic body chord direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich RIST, Andreas KNOLL
  • Patent number: 8251319
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system (10) for controlling the boundary layer of an airfoil (12) to reduce profile drag during flap deflection. The system (10) comprises first means for blowing air from a lower surface (14) of the airfoil (12) to trip airflow from laminar flow to turbulent flow during positive flap deflection; and second means for applying a suction force at the lower surface (14) of the airfoil (12) to preserve laminar flow during negative flap deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: North-West University
    Inventors: Adrianus Stefanus Jonker, Johannes Jacobus Bosman
  • Patent number: 8251317
    Abstract: A variable porosity system for an aircraft includes a first layer, a second layer and an actuator mechanism. Each of the first and second layers has at least one pore and are slidable relative to one another. The actuator mechanism is operative to move the first and second layers relative to one another such that the pores are movable into and out of at least partial alignment with one another to allow for fluid communication therebetween. At least one of the first and second layers is substantially continuous with an outer mold line surface of an aerodynamic member such as an aircraft wing. The actuator mechanism is configured to modulate the frequency of the opening and closing of the pores with respect to flight conditions of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Dale M. Pitt
  • Patent number: 8191834
    Abstract: A cooling system on board an aircraft includes a device for removing by suction a boundary layer, and a heat exchanger through which flows the boundary layer air that has been removed by suction. Cooling by way of a ram air channel can be reduced or entirely stopped, depending on the flight phase, such that the air drag of the aircraft and thus the fuel consumption can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Westenberger, Martin Arendt, Till Marquardt, Lars Frahm, Geza Schrauf