B64C23/072

Rotational joint for an aircraft folding wing

A wing (1) having a fixed wing (3) and a wing tip device (4) rotatable between a flight configuration and a ground configuration, a rotational joint (10) rotatably couples the wing tip device (4) to the fixed wing (3) and a locking mechanism (46) locks the wing tip device (4) in the flight and ground configurations. The locking mechanism (11) includes first and second locking members (51, 52) and first and second receiving members (53, 54), the locking mechanism (11) being configured to lock the wing tip device (4) in one of the flight configuration and ground configuration by receiving the first and second locking members (51, 52) in the first and second receiving members (53, 54) respectively, and to lock the wing tip device (4) in the other of the flight configuration and ground configuration by receiving the first locking member (51) in the second receiving member (54).

Foldable wing and actuator arrangement

A wing arrangement for an aircraft is described including a wing (5) having a base section (5) and a tip section (13), the base section (7) having a first end portion (9) and a second end portion (11), the tip section (13) having a third end portion (15) and a fourth end portion (17), wherein the second end portion (11) and the third end portion (15) are coupled with each other by a coupling arrangement so that the tip section (13) is pivotable with respect to the base section (7) about a pivot axis (19, 19).

Rotational joint for an aircraft folding wing

A rotational joint (101) that rotatably couples a wing tip device (4) to a fixed wing (3), and includes an outer race (8) and an inner race (9), a rotational drive member (70) and the race that is rotationally fixed relative to the wing tip device (4) each being provided with a coupling section (110, 111, 114), the coupling sections coupled to each other by a coupling member (119), that is received in a bore (112, 113) in one of the coupling sections, such that rotation of the drive member (70) rotates the race that is rotationally fixed relative to the wing tip device, to rotate the wing tip device (4) from one configuration to the other, wherein the coupling member (119) is mounted in the bore such that it is movable radially within the bore.

Fluid-redirecting structure
10578076 · 2020-03-03 ·

A fluid-redirecting structure includes a rigid body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axis of rotation, the rigid body incorporating a plurality of troughs each spiralled from a tip at the upstream end to the downstream end about the axis of rotation, the troughs being splayed with respect to the axis of rotation thereby to, proximate the downstream end, direct incident fluid along the troughs away from the axis of rotation.

Locking device
10569858 · 2020-02-25 · ·

An aircraft wing comprises a fixed wing, and a wing tip device at the tip thereof. The wing tip device is configurable between (i) a flight configuration for use during flight, and (ii) a ground configuration for use during ground based operations. In the ground configuration with span of the wing is reduced. The wing further comprises a locking mechanism including a locking pin with a longitudinal axis, the locking pin associated with one of the fixed wing and the wing tip device, and a bush associated with the other of the fixed wing and wing tip device, the bush configured to receive the locking pin. The bush is located within a bush housing arranged to allow relative movement of the bush in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the locking pin when the locking pin is received within the bush.

Adjustable lift modification wingtip
10562613 · 2020-02-18 · ·

An adjustable lift modification wingtip may be attached to a baseline wing of an aircraft. The adjustable lift modification wingtip may comprise a horizontal portion including a control surface and a vertical portion coupled to the horizontal portion. The vertical portion may move about an axis that may be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal portion. The control surface and the vertical portion may be adjusted in conjunction to increase wing efficiency at a flight condition.

Dual-purpose locking and folding arrangement for an aircraft wing tip device

An aircraft (5) including a wing (7) having a wing tip device (1) configurable between: a flight configuration and a ground configuration in which the span of the wing (7) is reduced. The aircraft (5) further includes a lock (13) for locking the wing tip device (1) in the flight configuration, and an actuator (3) for unlocking the lock (13) and for subsequently actuating the wing tip device (1) to the ground configuration. The actuator (3) is a two-stage hydraulic actuator, including a first hydraulic actuator stage (21) arranged to unlock the lock and a second hydraulic actuator stage (23) arranged to actuate the wing tip device (1) to the ground configuration. The first and second hydraulic actuator stages (21, 23) are arranged in series such that the second actuator stage (23) is unable to receive a hydraulic input feed until the first actuator stage (21) unlocks the lock (13).

Tiltrotor Aircraft having Rotatable Wing Extensions with Winglets

A pylon assembly for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a rotor assembly rotatably coupled to a fixed pylon and operable to rotate between a vertical takeoff and landing orientation and a forward flight orientation. The rotor assembly includes a proprotor operable to produce a slipstream. A wing extension is rotatably disposed to the outboard end of the fixed pylon such that the rotor assembly and the wing extension are separated by at least a portion of the fixed pylon. The wing extension has a forward edge and an outboard end. A winglet is coupled to the outboard end of the wing extension and has a forward edge. The wing extension and the winglet are configured to rotate in synchrony with the rotor assembly such that the forward edges of the wing extension and the winglet remain in the slipstream of the proprotor.

AIRCRAFT WITH A FOLDABLE WING TIP DEVICE
20200010177 · 2020-01-09 ·

An aircraft including a wing and a wing tip device is disclosed. The wing tip device is moveable between a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations. In the ground configuration the wing tip device is folded inwardly from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft is reduced. The wing tip device is connected to the wing along a hinge axis by spar beams of the wing tip device, one of the beams being mounted for pivoting about a fixed axis and the other beam being mounted on a spherical bearing to provide greater freedom of movement. Various actuator arrangements may be provided to pivot the wing tip device.

SHORT TAKE OFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT WITH ADJUSTABLE VORTICES DEVICE
20200001982 · 2020-01-02 ·

An improved aircraft system is provided. The improved aircraft system comprises an adjustable vortices device that may be attached to an aircraft to create various vortices effects, which increase take-off weight and improve low-speed handling of the aircraft. The adjustable vortices device comprises a linear actuator, a pivot mechanism, and a vortex generator. The pivot mechanism is operably connected to the linear actuator in a way such that the translational energy of the linear actuator causes the pivot mechanism to rotate about a central axis. The vortex generator is moveably attached to a surface of the aircraft and coupled to the pivot mechanism in a way such that rotating the pivot mechanism causes the vortex generator to rotate about a central axis, which alters the angle the vortex generators move through the air.