WING FOR AN AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A wing for an aircraft, including a main wing, and a leading edge high lift assembly including a high lift body, and a connection assembly connecting the high lift body to the main wing such that the high lift body is movable relative to the main wing between a stowed position and a deployed position. The connection assembly includes at least one rotation element mounted to the high lift body and mounted to the main wing rotatably about an axis of rotation. The high lift body includes a rigid portion and a flexible skin portion. The rigid portion is mounted to the rotation element. The flexible skin portion is connected to a leading edge portion of an upper skin panel of the main wing and is connected to the rigid portion of the high lift body The flexible skin portion is configured to be deformed between a stowed deformation state and a deployed deformation state, when the high lift body is moved between the stowed position and the deployed position.

Claims

1. A wing for an aircraft, comprising a main wing, and a leading edge high lift assembly comprising a high lift body, and a connection assembly connecting the high lift body to the main wing such that the high lift body is movable relative to the main wing between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the connection assembly comprises at least one rotation element that is mounted to the high lift body and that is mounted to the main wing rotatably about an axis of rotation, wherein the main wing comprises an upper skin panel and a lower skin panel, wherein the upper skin panel has a leading edge portion, wherein the high lift body comprises a rigid portion and a flexible skin portion, wherein the rigid portion is mounted to the rotation element, wherein the flexible skin portion is connected to the leading edge portion of the upper skin panel and is connected to the rigid portion of the high lift body, wherein the flexible skin portion is configured to be deformed between a stowed deformation state and a deployed deformation state, when the high lift body is moved between the stowed position and the deployed position, and wherein in the stowed deformation state the flexible skin portion is pre-stressed so that the flexible skin portion comprises a predefined stress.

2. The wing according to claim 1, wherein in the stowed deformation state the flexible skin portion is pre-stressed in a chord direction so that the flexible skin portion comprises a predefined tensile stress in the chord direction.

3. The wing according to claim 1, wherein in the deployed deformation state the flexible skin portion is relaxed so that the predefined stress is removed.

4. The wing according to claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the rotation element extends outside an outer mold line of the wing.

5. The wing according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge high lift assembly comprises a pre-stressing device for introducing the predefined stress into the flexible skin portion.

6. The wing according to claim 5, wherein the pre-stressing device comprises a linkage that is rotatably mounted to the rotation element and that is rotatably mounted to the main wing.

7. The wing according to claim 6, wherein the linkage is movable between an extended state and a retracted state, wherein the linkage is in the extended state when the flexible skin portion is in the stowed deformation state, and wherein the linkage is in the retracted state when the flexible skin portion is in the deployed deformation state.

8. The wing according to claim 7, wherein the linkage comprises a first link rotatably mounted to the rotation element, and a second link rotatably mounted to the first link and rotatably mounted to the main wing, wherein in the extended state of the linkage the first link and the second link enclose a larger angle, while in the retracted state of the linkage the first link and the second link enclose a smaller angle.

9. The wing according to claim 8, wherein the first link is mounted to the second link by a rotatable joint, wherein the pre-stressing device further comprises a guide element mounted to the main wing, wherein the guide element guides the rotatable joint when the linkage is moved from the retracted state to the extended state of the linkage and supports the rotatable joint in the extended state in a predetermined position.

10. The wing according to claim 8, wherein the second link is mounted to the main wing via a third link that is rotatably mounted to the main wing and that is rotatably mounted to the second link.

11. The wing according to claim 10, wherein the third link comprises a linear guide, and wherein the rotation element comprises a rod that is guided in a linearly displaceable manner by the linear guide.

12. The wing according to claim 5, wherein the pre-stressing device comprises a pre-stress adjuster for adjusting an amount of predefined stress introduced into the flexible skin portion by the pre-stressing device in the stowed deformation state.

13. The wing according to claim 12, wherein the linkage comprises a first link rotatably mounted to the rotation element, and a second link rotatably mounted to the first link and rotatably mounted to the main wing, and wherein the pre-stress adjuster is formed by the first link being length-adjustable.

14. The wing according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge high lift assembly comprises an actuator for moving the high lift body between the stowed position and the deployed position.

15. The wing according to claim 14, wherein the actuator is mounted to the main wing and has a rotatable drive arm driving the high lift body via a drive link that is rotatably mounted to the drive arm and that is rotatably mounted to the rigid portion of the high lift body.

16. A wing for an aircraft, comprising a main wing, and a leading edge high lift assembly comprising a high lift body, and a connection assembly connecting the high lift body to the main wing such that the high lift body is movable relative to the main wing between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the connection assembly comprises at least one rotation element that is mounted to the high lift body and that is mounted to the main wing rotatably about an axis of rotation, wherein the main wing comprises an upper skin panel and a lower skin panel, wherein the upper skin panel has a leading edge portion, wherein the high lift body comprises a rigid portion and a flexible skin portion, wherein the rigid portion is mounted to the rotation element, wherein the flexible skin portion is connected to the leading edge portion of the upper skin panel and is connected to the rigid portion of the high lift body, wherein the flexible skin portion is configured to be deformed between a stowed deformation state and a deployed deformation state, when the high lift body is moved between the stowed position and the deployed position, and wherein the axis of rotation of the rotation element extends outside an outer mold line of the wing.

17. A leading edge high lift assembly for the wing according to claim 1, comprising a high lift body, and a connection assembly for connecting the high lift body to the main wing such that the high lift body is movable relative to the main wing between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the connection assembly comprises at least one rotation element that is mounted to the high lift body and that is configured to be mounted to the main wing rotatably about an axis of rotation, wherein the high lift body comprises a rigid portion and a flexible skin portion, wherein the rigid portion is mounted to the rotation element, wherein the flexible skin portion is configured to be connected to a leading edge portion of an upper skin panel of the main wing and is connected to the rigid portion of the high lift body, and wherein the flexible skin portion is configured to be deformed between a stowed deformation state and a deployed deformation state, when the high lift body is moved between the stowed position and the deployed position, wherein in the stowed deformation state the flexible skin portion is configured to be pre-stressed so that the flexible skin portion comprises a predefined stress, or wherein the leading edge high lift assembly is configured such that the axis of rotation of the rotation element extends outside an outer mold line of the wing, when the wing is in an assembled state.

18. An aircraft comprising the wing according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained hereinafter in more detail by means of a drawing.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aircraft according to the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view across the span direction of a wing according to the invention with a high lift body in the stowed position,

[0031] FIG. 3 is the wing shown in FIG. 2 with the high lift body in the deployed position,

[0032] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the pre-stressing device of the wing shown in FIG. 2,

[0033] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along section A-A in FIG. 4,

[0034] FIG. 6 is the wing of FIG. 2 showing details of the mounting of the actuator to the front spar, and

[0035] FIG. 7 is a sectional view along section A-A in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] In FIG. 1 an embodiment of an aircraft 1 according to the present invention is illustrated. The aircraft 1 comprises a fuselage 3, wings 5, a vertical tail plane 7 and a horizontal tail plane 9. FIGS. 2 to 9 show in more detail several embodiments of the wings 5.

[0037] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the wing 5 according to the invention. The wing 5 comprises a main wing 11 and a leading edge high lift assembly 13 movable relative to the main wing 11 to increase lift of the wing 5. The leading edge high lift assembly 13 comprises a high lift body 15 and a connection assembly 17. The high lift body 15 is a droop high lift body also referred to as droop nose, droop leading edge, droop flap or slat, in particular, sealed slat. The connection assembly 17 is configured for connecting the high lift body 15 to the leading edge of the main wing 11 in such a way that the high lift body 15 is movable relative to the main wing 11 between a stowed position and a deployed position. The stowed position relates to a position where the wing profile has a lower curvature, while the deployed position relates to a position where the wing profile has a higher curvature.

[0038] The connection assembly 17 comprises at least one rotation element 19 that is mounted to the high lift body 15 and that is mounted to the main wing 11 rotatably about an axis of rotation 21. The rotation element 19 is mounted to the high lift body 15 in a fixed, non-rotatable manner by being bolted to a rigid rib 28 of the high lift body 15. The axis of rotation 21 extends in parallel to a span direction 29 and in parallel to the extension of leading edge along the wing 5, so that the high lift body 15 is rotated about the axis of rotation 21 when moved between the stowed position and the deployed position. The axis of rotation 21 of the rotation element 19 extends outside an outer mold line of the wing 5 above the high lift body 15.

[0039] The main wing 11 comprises an upper skin panel 31 for contact with an ambient flow 34 on an upper side of the main wing 11, and a lower skin panel 33 for contact with the ambient flow 34 on a lower side of the main wing 11. The upper skin panel 31 has a leading edge portion 35 in the area of a leading edge of the main wing 11 and facing the high lift body 15. The upper skin panel 31 and the lower skin panel 33 are connected and supported against each other via a front spar 39.

[0040] The high lift body 15 comprises a rigid portion 30 and a flexible skin portion 32 configured for contact with the ambient flow 34. The rigid portion 30 is fixedly mounted to the rotation element 19. The flexible skin portion 32 is fixedly and directly attached to the leading edge portion 35 of the upper skin panel 31 and is fixedly and directly attached to the rigid portion 30 of the high lift body 15 in the area of a leading edge 41 of the high lift body 15. The flexible skin portion 32 is configured to be elastically deformed between a stowed deformation state and a deployed deformation state, when the high lift body 15 is moved between the stowed position and the deployed position, so that the flexible skin portion 32 is in the stowed deformation state when the high lift body 15 is in the stowed position and the flexible skin portion 32 is in the deployed deformation state when the high lift body 15 is in the deployed position.

[0041] In the stowed deformation state the flexible skin portion 32 is pre-stressed in a chord direction 67 so that it comprises a predefined stress in the form of tensile stress. In the deployed deformation state the flexible skin portion 32 is relaxed so that the predefined stress is removed.

[0042] As shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, the leading edge high lift assembly 13 comprises a pre-stressing device 43 for introducing and removing the predefined stress into the flexible skin portion 32. The pre-stressing device 43 comprises a linkage 45 that is rotatably mounted to the rotation element 19 and that is rotatably mounted to the main wing 11. The linkage 45 is movable between an extended state and a retracted state. The linkage 45 is in the extended state when the flexible skin portion 32 is in the stowed deformation state, and the linkage 45 is in the retracted state when the flexible skin portion 32 is in the deployed deformation state.

[0043] The linkage 45 comprises a first link 47 rotatably and directly mounted to the rotation element 19 and a second link 49 rotatably and directly mounted to the first link 47 and rotatably mounted to the main wing 11. In the extended state of the linkage 45 the first link 47 and the second link 49 enclose a larger angle, while in the retracted state of the linkage 45 the first link 47 and the second link 49 enclose a smaller angle.

[0044] The first link 47 is mounted to the second link 49 by a rotatable joint 51. The pre-stressing device 43 further comprises a guide element 53 in the form of a guide roller mounted to the main wing 11 directly and rotatably about a fixed rotation axis 55. The guide element 53 guides the rotatable joint 51 when the linkage 45 is moved from the retracted state to the extended state of the linkage 45 and supports the rotatable joint 51 in the extended state in a predetermined position. The first link 47 slides along the guide element 53, when the linkage 45 is moved from the retracted state to the extended state, until the rotatable joint 51 meets the guide element 53, and thereby straightens and extends the linkage 45.

[0045] The second link 49 is mounted to the main wing 11 via a third link 59 that is rotatably and directly mounted to the main wing 11 and that is rotatably and directly mounted to the second link 49. The axis of rotation 60 about which the third link 59 is mounted rotatably to the main wing is fixed relative to the main wing. The third link 59 comprises a linear guide 61. The rotation element 19 comprises a rod 63 that is received and guided in a linearly displaceable manner within the linear guide 61, so that the rod 63 can be linearly moved within the linear guide 61 when the linkage 45 is moved between the retracted state and the extended state. The direction of linear movement of the rod 63 within the linear guide 61 is perpendicular to the axis about which the third link 59 rotates.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the pre-stressing device 43 comprises a pre-stress adjuster 69 for adjusting and calibrating the amount of predefined stress introduced into the flexible skin portion 32 by the pre-stressing device 69 in the stowed deformation state. The pre-stress adjuster 69 is formed by the first link 47 being length-adjustable by a length-adjustment screw 71 being in threaded engagement with the two opposite ends of the first link 47 and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the first link 47 for length adjustment.

[0047] The leading edge high lift assembly 13 further comprises an actuator 75 for moving the high lift body 15 between the stowed position and the deployed position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7. The actuator 75 is fixedly mounted to a chordwise mounting rib 77 connected to the front spar 39 of the main wing 11, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The actuator 75 has a rotatable drive arm 79 driving the high lift body 15 via a drive link 81 that is rotatably mounted to the drive arm 79 and that is rotatably mounted to the rigid portion 30 of the high lift body 15.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, the leading edge high lift assembly 13 comprises a further connection assembly 17′ spaced from the connection assembly 17 in the span direction 29 and preferably formed as the connection assembly 17. At least two spaced connection assemblies 17, 17′ are provided to carry each high lift body 15. Each connection assembly 17, 17′ might also comprise more than one rotation element 19.

[0049] By the invention as described above, a wing 5 with a very efficient leading edge high lift assembly 13 can be formed. By pre-stressing the flexible skin portion 32 in the stowed deformation state the form-stability of the flexible skin portion 32 increases drastically even under the high air loads during cruise. At the same time, the thickness of the flexible skin portion 32 can be reduced and the flexible skin portion 32 does not need to be supported between the rigid portion 30 of the high lift body 15 and the leading edge portion 35 of the upper skin panel 31 of the main wing 11, thereby reducing weight and complexity of the wing 5.

[0050] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.