Abstract: A 3D printed drilling template (20, 30a, 30b, 30c) including: a rigid framework able to be manipulated by an operator or an automaton, and a set of traversing (22, 32a, 32b, 32c, 33c) orifices in the framework and arranged to guide the drilling of holes into a structure on which the drilling template is mounted, wherein the drilling template (20, 30a, 30b, 30c) is designed or revised on an ad-hoc basis and manufactured by 3D printing and using a 3D printing material based on a polymer material mixed with powdered graphene.

Abstract: A lifting device including: a movable discontinuity (1) located in a surface of the lifting device, the movable discontinuity (1) being movable between: an active position in which the movable discontinuity (1) acts as vortex generator, and a passive position in which the movable discontinuity (1) is integrated into the surface of the lifting surface, a conduit (2) located in the spanwise direction of the lifting surface and in communication with the movable discontinuity (1), the lifting surface including openings (3) in its surface spanwise distant from each other in communication with the conduit (2), the movable discontinuity (1) and the conduit (2) being configured such that when an airflow goes through the conduit (2), this airflow activates the movable discontinuity (1) to act as a vortex generator of the lifting surface.

Abstract: A lifting surface comprising a movable discontinuity located in the surface of the lifting surface. The movable discontinuity is movable between an active position in which the movable discontinuity acts as vortex generator, and a passive position in which the movable discontinuity is integrated into the surface of the lifting surface without acting as vortex generator. The lifting surface may be in an elevator, the elevator being rotatable around a hinge line with respect to the rest of the lifting surface. A bar is rigidly joined to the elevator. The bar, the elevator and the movable discontinuity are configured such that when the elevator rotates with respect to the rest of the lifting surface, the bar moves the movable discontinuity that departs from the surface of the lifting surface, acting as a vortex generator.

Abstract: A tip structure for an aircraft airfoil, such as a control surface (ailerons, flaps, elevators, rudders, etc) and/or a lifting surface (wings, HTP's, VTP's) is a unitary body and includes a tip shell and a metallic material on the outer surface of the tip shell suitable to withstand a lighting strike. The tip shell has been obtained by a single-stage injection molding process using a thermoplastic composite material having fibers dispersed therein, and the metallic material has been integrally formed with the tip shell.

Abstract: A leading edge section with laminar flow control includes: a perforated outer skin, a perforated inner skin, and a plurality of suction chambers formed between the outer skin and the inner skin. The leading edge section includes a plurality of stringers span-wise arranged at the leading edge section, and integrally formed with the outer skin, such that the inner skin is joined to the stringers. A method for manufacturing a leading edge section integrating a laminar flow control system is described, wherein a perforated inner skin is joined with a perforated outer skin having a plurality of stringers integrally formed with the outer skin, such that suction chambers are defined by a part of the outer skin, a part of the inner skin and a pair of stringers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the manufacturing of a leading edge section with hybrid laminar flow control for an aircraft. A manufacturing method involves: providing an outer hood, a plurality of elongated modules, first and second C-shaped profiles having comprising cavities, and an inner mandrel; assembling an injection molding tool by placing each profile on each end of the inner mandrel, arranging a first extreme of each elongated module in one cavity of the first profile and a second extreme of the module in another cavity of the second profile, both cavities positioned in the same radial direction; and placing the hood on first and second profiles to close the tool. Further, the injection molding tool is closed and filled with an injection compound comprising thermoplastic and short-fiber. Finally, the compound is hardened and demolded.

Abstract: A manufacturing process to form a positioning control tool, such as a gyroscope, by using a three-dimensional (3D) printer printing a polymer material mixed with powdered graphene (12a) components (410) on a piezoelectric substrate (205), the components (410) include: a resonator (411) transducer configured to create a first surface acoustic wave (215); a pair of reflectors (412a, 412b) configured to reflect the first surface acoustic wave (215); a structure (413) which, when subjected to a Coriolis force, creates a second surface acoustic wave (230); a first sensor transducer (414) configured to sense the second surface acoustic wave (230); and a second sensor transducer (415) configured to sense a residual surface acoustic wave from a second region of the surface (210) of the piezoelectric substrate free of the structures that respond to the Coriolis force.

Abstract: A 3D printed drilling template (20, 30a, 30b, 30c) including: a rigid framework able to be manipulated by an operator or an automaton, and a set of traversing (22, 32a, 32b, 32c, 33c) orifices in the framework and arranged to guide the drilling of holes into a structure on which the drilling template is mounted, wherein the drilling template (20, 30a, 30b, 30c) is designed or revised on an ad-hoc basis and manufactured by 3D printing and using a 3D printing material based on a polymer material mixed with powdered graphene.

Abstract: A lifting device including: a movable discontinuity (1) located in a surface of the lifting device, the movable discontinuity (1) being movable between: an active position in which the movable discontinuity (1) acts as vortex generator, and a passive position in which the movable discontinuity (1) is integrated into the surface of the lifting surface, a conduit (2) located in the spanwise direction of the lifting surface and in communication with the movable discontinuity (1), the lifting surface including openings (3) in its surface spanwise distant from each other in communication with the conduit (2), the movable discontinuity (1) and the conduit (2) being configured such that when an airflow goes through the conduit (2), this airflow activates the movable discontinuity (1) to act as a vortex generator of the lifting surface.

Abstract: A lifting surface comprising a movable discontinuity located in the surface of the lifting surface. The movable discontinuity is movable between an active position in which the movable discontinuity acts as vortex generator, and a passive position in which the movable discontinuity is integrated into the surface of the lifting surface without acting as vortex generator. The lifting surface may be in an elevator, the elevator being rotatable around a hinge line with respect to the rest of the lifting surface. A bar is rigidly joined to the elevator. The bar, the elevator and the movable discontinuity are configured such that when the elevator rotates with respect to the rest of the lifting surface, the bar moves the movable discontinuity that departs from the surface of the lifting surface, acting as a vortex generator.

Abstract: A tip structure for an aircraft airfoil, such as a control surface (ailerons, flaps, elevators, rudders, etc) and/or a lifting surface (wings, HTP's, VTP's) is a unitary body and includes a tip shell and a metallic material on the outer surface of the tip shell suitable to withstand a lighting strike. The tip shell has been obtained by a single-stage injection molding process using a thermoplastic composite material having fibers dispersed therein, and the metallic material has been integrally formed with the tip shell.

Abstract: An aircraft aerodynamic surface includes a torsion box having an upper skin, a lower skin, and a front spar, and a leading edge having an external shell and an impact resisting structure. The external shell may be shaped with an aerodynamic leading edge profile, being configured to provide Laminar Flow Control (LFC) to the leading edge. The impact resisting structure is spanwise arranged between the external shell and the front spar, and is configured for absorbing a bird strike to prevent damage in the front spar. Also, at least one of the external shell and the impact resisting structure is fitted with the upper and lower skins of the torsion box to thereby facilitate leading edge exchange.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the manufacturing of a leading edge section with hybrid laminar flow control for an aircraft. A manufacturing method involves: providing an outer hood, a plurality of elongated modules, first and second C-shaped profiles having comprising cavities, and an inner mandrel; assembling an injection moulding tool by placing each profile on each end of the inner mandrel, arranging a first extreme of each elongated module in one cavity of the first profile and a second extreme of the module in another cavity of the second profile, both cavities positioned in the same radial direction; and placing the hood on first and second profiles to close the tool. Further, the injection moulding tool is closed and filled with an injection compound comprising thermoplastic and short-fiber. Finally, the compound is hardened and demoulded.

Abstract: A leading edge section with laminar flow control includes: a perforated outer skin, a perforated inner skin, and a plurality of suction chambers formed between the outer skin and the inner skin. The leading edge section includes a plurality of stringers span-wise arranged at the leading edge section, and integrally formed with the outer skin, such that the inner skin is joined to the stringers. A method for manufacturing a leading edge section integrating a laminar flow control system is described, wherein a perforated inner skin is joined with a perforated outer skin having a plurality of stringers integrally formed with the outer skin, such that suction chambers are defined by a part of the outer skin, a part of the inner skin and a pair of stringers.