Patent classifications
B64C23/00
Methods of Dynamically Controlling Airflow Behind a Carrier Aircraft to Redirect Air Flow During an In-flight Recovery of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and an Apparatus Therefor
An apparatus is provided for dynamically controlling airflow behind a carrier aircraft to redirect air flow during an in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus comprises a frame attached to an end portion of an arm member extending from the carrier aircraft. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vanes disposed within the frame. Each vane is controllable between an opened position and a closed position to dynamically modify the airflow behind the carrier aircraft during the in-flight recovery of the UAV. Alternatively, or in addition to, the apparatus comprises a plurality of compressed air jets disposed on the frame, wherein each jet is controllable to provide active airflow to dynamically modify the airflow behind the carrier aircraft during the in-flight recovery of the UAV.
Methods of Dynamically Controlling Airflow Behind a Carrier Aircraft to Redirect Air Flow During an In-flight Recovery of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and an Apparatus Therefor
An apparatus is provided for dynamically controlling airflow behind a carrier aircraft to redirect air flow during an in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus comprises a frame attached to an end portion of an arm member extending from the carrier aircraft. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vanes disposed within the frame. Each vane is controllable between an opened position and a closed position to dynamically modify the airflow behind the carrier aircraft during the in-flight recovery of the UAV. Alternatively, or in addition to, the apparatus comprises a plurality of compressed air jets disposed on the frame, wherein each jet is controllable to provide active airflow to dynamically modify the airflow behind the carrier aircraft during the in-flight recovery of the UAV.
Flow control device
A flow control device on a structure such that strain in the structure is at least partially transferred to the flow control device is disclosed having at least two states, or shapes, separated by an elastic instability region. The flow control device is arranged to rapidly transition, or snap through, from the first state to the second state when strain in the structure exceeds an activation threshold of the flow control device. A spoiler on an aerofoil may have a rest position where it is substantially flush with the low pressure surface and an activated position where it protrudes from the low pressure surface and modifies the airflow over that surface. The spoiler bends to move from the rest position to the activated position when the strain in the aerofoil crosses a threshold. The deployed spoiler reduces the lift on the aerofoil, acting to reduce the lift induced strain of the aerofoil to which the spoiler is attached.
Nose landing gear arrangements including a flexible sheet and methods for making the same
Nose landing gear arrangements for aircrafts, aircrafts including such nose landing gear arrangements, and methods for making such nose landing gear arrangements are provided. In one example, a nose landing gear arrangement includes a wheel assembly and a main strut. The main strut is operatively coupled to the wheel assembly and is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The main strut in the extended position extends outside of the fuselage substantially along a generally vertical plane to position the wheel assembly for takeoff and/or landing of the aircraft. The main strut in the retracted position is disposed inside the fuselage. A flexible sheet is disposed adjacent to the main strut and is configured such that when the main strut is in the extended position the flexible sheet is positioned substantially around the main strut.
PREDICTING INCIPIENT SEPARATION IN TURBULENT FLOWS
A method for predicting if a flow over a smooth ramp surface will separate from the ramp surface, wherein the ramp surface has a slope that is everywhere non-positive along the length of the ramp surface relative to the flow at the inflow end of the ramp surface includes i) dividing the height of the ramp surface by the length of the ramp surface to determine a height-to-length ratio of the ramp surface, ii) identifying a maximum slope magnitude of the ramp surface, iii) calculating a maximum normalized slope by dividing the maximum slope magnitude of the ramp surface by the height-to-length ratio of the ramp surface, and calculating a critical ramp slope as a linear function of the height-to-length ratio of the ramp surface. If the maximum normalized slope is greater than the critical ramp slope, the method predicts the turbulent boundary layer will separate from the ramp surface.
PREDICTING INCIPIENT SEPARATION IN TURBULENT FLOWS
A method for predicting if a flow over a smooth ramp surface will separate from the ramp surface, wherein the ramp surface has a slope that is everywhere non-positive along the length of the ramp surface relative to the flow at the inflow end of the ramp surface includes i) dividing the height of the ramp surface by the length of the ramp surface to determine a height-to-length ratio of the ramp surface, ii) identifying a maximum slope magnitude of the ramp surface, iii) calculating a maximum normalized slope by dividing the maximum slope magnitude of the ramp surface by the height-to-length ratio of the ramp surface, and calculating a critical ramp slope as a linear function of the height-to-length ratio of the ramp surface. If the maximum normalized slope is greater than the critical ramp slope, the method predicts the turbulent boundary layer will separate from the ramp surface.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MITIGATING TRAILING VORTEX WAKES OF LIFTING OR THRUST GENERATING BODIES
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for mitigating the formation of concentrated wake vortex structures generated from lifting or thrust-generating bodies and maneuvering control surfaces wherein the use of contour surface geometries promotes vortex-mixing of high and low flow fluids. The methods and apparatuses can be combined with various drag reduction techniques, such as the use of riblets of various types and/or compliant surfaces (passive and active). Such combinations form unique structures for various fluid dynamic control applications to suppress transiently growing forms of boundary layer disturbances in a manner that significantly improves performance and has improved control dynamics.
DRIVING APPARATUS OF FLIGHT OBJECT
The present invention provides a driving apparatus of a flight object, the driving apparatus comprising: a support member rotatably installed inside a flight object body; a first rotation actuating part installed on the support member; a second rotation actuating part installed on the first rotation actuating part in a direction intersecting with the first rotation actuating part, and a magnetic body rotating vertically and horizontally by the first and the second rotation actuating part, wherein the magnetic body includes: a hemisphere rotation body installed on the second rotation actuating part; a current body installed inside the hemisphere rotation body and supplied electronic currents; a first pole magnetic body installed in one side of the current body; a second pole magnetic body installed in the other side, and a connection part connecting between the first and the second pole magnetic body.
Synthetic jets in compressors
A synthetic jet for a stationary vane for a turbo-machine is disclosed. The synthetic jet includes a backside cavity and a jet cavity. The jet cavity includes a frontside cavity adjoining the backside cavity and a jet passage extending from a fluid stream interfacing surface of the airfoil towards the frontside cavity. The jet passage is in flow communication with the frontside cavity. The synthetic jet also includes a disk located between the backside cavity and the frontside cavity. The disk includes a cylindrical disk and a coating on each side of the cylindrical disk. The coating is a piezo electric ceramic material.
FLYING MACHINE AND FLYING MACHINE USAGE METHOD
A flying machine includes: a flying machine body that includes a rotor blade; a protective member that forms a frame shape inside which the rotor blade is disposed, that is rotatably fixed to both end portions of the flying machine body, and that is pipe shaped; and a connecting wire that passes through an inner portion of the protective member to connect the flying machine body and an external device together.