Patents by Inventor Thomas Lorkowski

Thomas Lorkowski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9045224
    Abstract: A high lift system with a main wing and regulating flaps, also bearing devices for the mounting of the regulating flaps, and positioning devices for the positioning of the regulating flaps, wherein the respective bearing device and/or positioning device is 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 one inlet duct with at least one inlet, which device is located on or underneath the lower face of the high lift system, wherein at least one outlet duct for air is furthermore provided, which is connected with the inlet duct in a fluid-communicating manner, and has at least one outlet, which is located on the upper face in the region of at least one regulating flap of the high lift system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Gölling, Thomas Lorkowski
  • Patent number: 8408498
    Abstract: An aerodynamic body with an outside with a top and bottom in relation to the direction of airflow, with lateral end parts that form the lateral ends of the aerodynamic body when viewed across the direction of airflow, where in the interior of the aerodynamic body a duct with an airflow drive with a drive motor and a compressor means that is driven by the aforesaid and that is arranged in the duct is arranged, with at least one inlet at the bottom and/or at at least one of the lateral end parts of the aerodynamic body and with at least one outlet at the top of the aerodynamic body for influencing the airflow at the aerodynamic body is arranged, where in the duct a sleeve is arranged which is rotatable by means of a drive motor, which sleeve includes at least one recess which at a particular rotational position of the sleeve can be made to at least in part coincide with the outlet at the top of the aerodynamic body so that the air that has been compressed by the compressor flows through the recess in the sleeve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Lorkowski
  • Publication number: 20130026300
    Abstract: A high lift system with a main wing and regulating flaps, also bearing devices for the mounting of the regulating flaps, and positioning devices for the positioning of the regulating flaps, wherein the respective bearing device and/or positioning device is 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 one inlet duct with at least one inlet, which device is located on or underneath the lower face of the high lift system, wherein at least one outlet duct for air is furthermore provided, which is connected with the inlet duct in a fluid-communicating manner, and has at least one outlet, which is located on the upper face in the region of at least one regulating flap of the high lift system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Gölling, Thomas LORKOWSKI
  • Patent number: 8191835
    Abstract: A wing of an aircraft has a mainplane, which has an upper face, a lower face and an aerodynamically shaped area. The wing has an additional airfoil which is articulated on the mainplane and can be extended from a retracted state with a slot area being opened between the mainplane and the additional airfoil. The wing also has a variable-position slot-varying apparatus which is arranged on the lower face, forms a part of the aerodynamic profile of the additional airfoil or mainplane when the additional airfoil is extended, and at least partially covers the slot area between the mainplane and the additional airfoil on the lower face when the additional airfoil is in the retracted state. The slot-varying apparatus can be varied between a curved configuration, in which it forms a part of an aerodynamic profile, and an extended configuration, in which it at least partially covers the slot area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Grohmann, Johann Reichenberger, Thomas Lorkowski
  • Patent number: 8006941
    Abstract: A system for reducing aerodynamic noise of a supplementary wing of an aircraft is provided. The supplementary wing is hinged to a main wing and is extendable when a gap region between the main wing and the supplementary wing is opened. The system includes a separating surface which can be moved into the gap region when the supplementary wing is extended and which extends at least partially along a separation flow line between a vortex flow region and a gap flow for the air flowing in the gap region. The separating surface is an n-stable surface which through an actuator device can be moved between at least one of the stable states and at least one additional state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Boris Grohmann
  • Publication number: 20110024574
    Abstract: An aerodynamic body with an outside with a top and bottom in relation to the direction of airflow, with lateral end parts that form the lateral ends of the aerodynamic body when viewed across the direction of airflow, where in the interior of the aerodynamic body a duct with an airflow drive with a drive motor and a compressor means that is driven by the aforesaid and that is arranged in the duct is arranged, with at least one inlet at the bottom and/or at at least one of the lateral end parts of the aerodynamic body and with at least one outlet at the top of the aerodynamic body for influencing the airflow at the aerodynamic body is arranged, where in the duct a sleeve is arranged which is rotatable by means of a drive motor, which sleeve includes at least one recess which at a particular rotational position of the sleeve can be made to at least in part coincide with the outlet at the top of the aerodynamic body so that the air that has been compressed by the compressor flows through the recess in the sleeve
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Lorkowski
  • Publication number: 20100294893
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic component, in particular a wing, a landing flap, a pitch elevator, a yaw rudder, a fin or tail. The aerodynamic component comprises an outer shell and at least one supporting element supporting said outer shell. A drive unit rotates the supporting element. A supporting region is created between the supporting element and the outer shell. The supporting region transfers deformation forces from the drive unit via the supporting element to the outer shell. The supporting element is designed and configured for changing the distance of the supporting region from a longitudinal plane of the aerodynamic component with a rotation of the supporting element. The outer shell comprises an elastic deformation region. The elastic deformation region is elastically deformed by the deformation forces with a rotation of the supporting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FÜR LUFT- UND RAUMFAHRT E.V.
    Inventors: Olaf HEINTZE, Hans Peter MONNER, Markus KINTSCHER, Johannes RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Thomas LORKOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20100282900
    Abstract: A system for reducing aerodynamic noise of a supplementary wing of an aircraft is provided. The supplementary wing is hinged to a main wing and is extendable when a gap region between the main wing and the supplementary wing is opened. The system includes a separating surface which can be moved into the gap region when the supplementary wing is extended and which extends at least partially along a separation flow line between a vortex flow region and a gap flow for the air flowing in the gap region. The separating surface is an n-stable surface which through an actuator device can be moved between at least one of the stable states and at least one additional state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas LORKOWSKI, Boris GROHMANN
  • Patent number: 7766281
    Abstract: A system for reducing aerodynamic noise of a supplementary wing of an aircraft is provided. The supplementary wing is hinged to a main wing and is extendable when a gap region between the main wing and the supplementary wing is opened. The system includes a separating surface which can be moved into the gap region when the supplementary wing is extended and which extends at least partially along a separation flow line between a vortex flow region and a gap flow for the air flowing in the gap region. The separating surface is an n-stable surface which through an actuator device can be moved between at least one of the stable states and at least one additional state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Boris Grohmann
  • Publication number: 20100019095
    Abstract: Wing of an aircraft having a mainplane (20), which has an upper face (22), a lower face (23) and an aerodynamically shaped area (21), and having an additional airfoil (10) which is articulated on the mainplane (20) and can be extended from a retracted state with a slot area (9) being opened between the mainplane (20) and the additional airfoil (10) and having a variable-position slot-varying apparatus (16) which is arranged on the lower face, forms a part of the aerodynamic profile of the additional airfoil (10) or mainplane (20) when the additional airfoil (10) is extended, and at least partially covers the slot area (9) between the mainplane (20) and the additional airfoil (10) on the lower face when the additional airfoil (10) is in the retracted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Grohmann, Johann Reichenberger, Thomas Lorkowski
  • Publication number: 20090001223
    Abstract: A flexible control surface (1; 11, 14) comprises at least two actuators (3), which act on the control surface (1; 11, 14) at different points of action (2) which are offset laterally with respect to the circulating-flow direction (6) with respect to one another. The at least two actuators (3) are designed such that the points of action (2) can be deflected differently when the actuators (3) are operated at the same time. It is thus possible to elastically deform the control surface (1; 11, 14), in particular along the span width direction (9), without kinks, in which case it is possible to achieve uniform transitions along the control surface laterally with respect to the flow direction (6). The invention makes it possible to reduce vortices and noise induced by the control surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Grohmann, Peter Konstanzer, Thomas Lorkowski
  • Publication number: 20080251647
    Abstract: A system for reducing aerodynamic noise of a supplementary wing of an aircraft is provided. The supplementary wing is hinged to a main wing and is extendable when a gap region between the main wing and the supplementary wing is opened. The system includes a separating surface which can be moved into the gap region when the supplementary wing is extended and which extends at least partially along a separation flow line between a vortex flow region and a gap flow for the air flowing in the gap region. The separating surface is an n-stable surface which through an actuator device can be moved between at least one of the stable states and at least one additional state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Boris Grohmann
  • Patent number: 7028602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a linear, hydraulic pivot drive, especially for the flap control system of aerodynamic structures. Said pivot drive comprises a housing provided with ports for introducing a hydraulic medium, a piston which is arranged inside the housing and can be axially displaced by the effect of the hydraulic medium, and an output shaft which is provided with coarse threads and interacts with the piston in order to cover the axial displacement of the piston into a rotational movement. The invention is characterized in that the output shaft is integrated into the piston, the coarse threads running in the same direction and engaging in the piston, and the cross-section of the piston has a spline profile for effectively preventing a rotational movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignees: EADS Deutschland GmbH, Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ulf Breuer, Peter Jaenker, Thomas Lorkowski
  • Publication number: 20050178927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a linear, hydraulic pivot drive, especially for the flap control system of aerodynamic structures. Said pivot drive comprises a housing provided with ports for introducing a hydraulic medium, a piston which is arranged inside the housing and can be axially displaced by the effect of the hydraulic medium, and an output shaft which is provided with coarse threads and interacts with the piston in order to cover the axial displacement of the piston into a rotational movement. The invention is characterized in that the output shaft is integrated into the piston, the coarse threads running in the same direction and engaging in the piston, and the cross-section of the piston has a spline profile for effectively preventing a rotational movement of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: Eads Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ulf Breuer, Peter Jaenker, Thomas Lorkowski
  • Patent number: 6663345
    Abstract: Rotor blade for a helicopter having an aerodynamic control flap, particularly a camber flap, is integrated essentially in the contour of the blade profile. The camber flap is swivellably arranged on an axis of rotation and is linked to a control rod of a control device outside the axis of rotation, for converting a linear movement into a swivelling movement of the control flap. The control device is disposed by way of roller bearings and bolts aligned in the span direction. Devices are provided which absorb by way of the control flap centrifugal forces of the control device resulting from the rotation of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Frank Hermle
  • Publication number: 20030026696
    Abstract: Rotor blade for a helicopter having an aerodynamic control flap, particularly a camber flap, is integrated essentially in the contour of the blade profile. The camber flap is swivellably arranged on an axis of rotation and is linked to a control rod of a control device outside the axis of rotation, for converting a linear movement into a swivelling movement of the control flap. The control device is disposed by way of roller bearings and bolts aligned in the span direction. Devices are provided which absorb by way of the control flap centrifugal forces of the control device resulting from the rotation of the rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Frank Hermle
  • Patent number: 6481964
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a helicopter has a blade root for a fastening in the area of the rotor mast and a radially exterior blade tip. An aerodynamic control flap is integrated essentially in the contour of the blade profile is swivellably disposed in the rotor blade between the blade root and the blade tip. The control flap is disposed at its two ends in each case by way of roller bearings on bearing bolts aligned in the span direction of the rotor blade. The bearing of the control flap which is radially on the outside has devices which provide a support with respect to the centrifugal forces of the control flap upon the rotor blade resulting from the rotation of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Frank Hermle
  • Patent number: 6371415
    Abstract: An aerodynamic component such as a helicopter rotor blade has an aerodynamic flow profile, a free end and a mounting end forming a blade root for attachment to a rotor mast. A blade section between the root and the free end has a leading edge and a trailing edge as viewed in the flow or chord direction. The blade is enclosed on its suction side and its pressure side with a respective skin. A nose flap or leading edge flap is secured to the leading edge by a bearing or hinge. The blade tilting angle is adjustable by piezo-drive elements arranged in at least one pair forming an actuator for each nose flap. The piezo-elements of a pair are arranged in the chord direction one behind the other and the pair is secured to the body of the blade by a fixed point positioned between the elements of a pair. The expansion and contraction from the piezo-element closer to the trailing edge is transmitted to the flap by a push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Frank Hermle, Peter Jaenker
  • Publication number: 20020021965
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a helicopter has a blade root for a fastening in the area of the rotor mast and a radially exterior blade tip. An aerodynamic control flap is integrated essentially in the contour of the blade profile is swivellably disposed in the rotor blade between the blade root and the blade tip. The control flap is disposed at its two ends in each case by way of roller bearings on bearing bolts aligned in the span direction of the rotor blade. The bearing of the control flap which is radially on the outside has devices which provide a support with respect to the centrifugal forces of the control flap upon the rotor blade resulting from the rotation of the rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Lorkowski, Frank Hermle