WING FOR AN AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A wing for an aircraft is disclosed having a main wing, a slat, and a connection assembly movable connecting the slat to the main wing, wherein the connection assembly includes an elongate slat track, wherein the front end of the slat track is mounted to the slat, wherein the rear end and the intermediate portion of the slat track are mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing comprising a guide rail mounted to the main wing and a first roller unit mounted to the rear end of the slat track and engaging the guide rail, and wherein the roller bearing includes a second roller unit mounted to the main wing and engaging an engagement surface at the intermediate portion of the slat track.

Claims

1. A wing for an aircraft, comprising a main wing, a slat, and a connection assembly movable connecting the slat to the main wing, such that the slat is movable between a retracted position and at least one extended position, wherein the connection assembly comprises an elongate slat track that extends along a track longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end and has an intermediate portion between the front and rear ends, wherein the front end of the slat track is mounted to the slat, wherein the rear end and the intermediate portion of the slat track are mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing such that the slat track is movable along the track longitudinal axis, wherein the roller bearing comprises a guide rail mounted to the main wing and a first roller unit mounted to the rear end of the slat track and engaging the guide rail, and wherein the roller bearing comprises a second roller unit that is mounted to the main wing and that engages an engagement surface provided at the intermediate portion of the slat track, wherein the roller bearing comprises a play-reduction roller unit urging the first roller unit in contact with the guide rail and/or urging the second roller unit in contact with the engagement surface.

2. The wing according to claim 1, wherein the slat track has a profile comprising an upper flange portion, a lower flange portion and at least one web portion connecting upper and lower flange portions, and the second roller unit is arranged in a recess between upper and lower flange portions and engages the engagement surface provided at the upper flange portion and/or at the lower flange portion.

3. The wing according to claim 2, wherein the slat track has such a profile that a first recess is formed between the upper and lower flange portions at a first side of the web portion, and a second recess is formed between the upper and lower flange portions at a second side of the web portion opposite the first side.

4. The wing according to claim 3, wherein the second roller unit comprises a first roller element and a second roller element, wherein the first roller element is arranged in the first recess and the second roller element is arranged in the second recess, and wherein first and second roller elements are arranged coaxially and have the same radius.

5. The wing according to claim 1, wherein the play-reduction roller unit is mounted to the main wing and engages the slat track.

6. The wing according to claim 5, wherein the play-reduction roller unit engages an upper surface of the slat track in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit urges the first roller unit in contact with an upper rail surface of a lower rail part of the guide rail, and/or the second roller unit in contact with the engagement surface provided at the upper flange portion.

7. The wing according to claim 6, wherein the guide rail is formed in a way of a slot including the lower rail part with the upper rail surface and an upper rail part with a lower rail surface opposite from the upper rail surface.

8. The wing according to claim 6, wherein the guide rail is formed in a one-sided way including only the lower rail part with the upper rail surface, but not including any upper rail part with a lower rail surface opposite from the upper rail surface.

9. The wing according to claim 5, wherein the play-reduction roller unit engages a lower surface of the slat track in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit urges the first roller unit in contact with a lower rail surface of an upper rail part of the guide rail, and/or the second roller unit in contact with the engagement surface provided at the lower flange portion.

10. The wing according to claim 5, wherein the play-reduction roller unit engages the engagement surface provided at the upper flange portion in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit urges the second roller unit in contact with the engagement surface provided at the lower flange portion.

11. The wing according to claim 1, wherein the play-reduction roller unit is mounted to the slat track and engages the guide rail.

12. The wing according to claim 11, wherein the play-reduction roller unit engages a lower rail surface of an upper rail part in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit urges the first roller unit in contact with an upper rail surface of a lower rail part.

13. The wing according to claim 1, wherein the play-reduction roller unit is mounted to the main wing or to the slat track via an eccentric member configured for adjusting the position of the play-reduction roller unit.

14. An aircraft comprising a wing according to claim 1.

15. A connection assembly for a wing according to claim 1, for movably connecting a slat to a main wing for an aircraft, the connection assembly comprising an elongate slat track that extends along a track longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end and has an intermediate portion between the front and rear ends, wherein the front end of the slat track is configured to be mounted to the slat, wherein the rear end and the intermediate portion of the slat track are configured to be mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing such that the slat track is movable along the track longitudinal axis, wherein the roller bearing comprises a guide rail configured to be mounted to the main wing, and a first roller unit mounted to the rear end of the slat track and configured for engaging the guide rail, and wherein the roller bearing comprises a second roller unit that is configured to be mounted to the main wing and that is configured for engaging an engagement surface provided at the intermediate portion of the slat track, wherein the roller bearing comprises a play-reduction roller unit configured for urging the first roller unit in contact with the guide rail and/or configured for urging the second roller unit in contact with the engagement surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] For an understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, reference is now made to the

[0035] following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aircraft according to the present invention, including a wing;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the wing shown in FIG. 1, including a connection assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a top view of the connection assembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connection assembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0040] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view across the track longitudinal axis of the connection assembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0041] FIG. 6 is a side view of a connection assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 7 is a side view of a connection assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 8 is a side view of a connection assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 9 is a side view of a connection assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and,

[0045] FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of a sixth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0046] Some embodiments will now be described with reference to the Figures.

[0047] In FIG. 1 an aircraft 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The aircraft 1 comprises a wing 3 that is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows the wing 3 from FIG. 1 in more detail. The wing 1 comprises a main wing 5, a slat 7, and a connection assembly 9 movable connecting the slat 7 to the main wing 5, such that the slat 7 is movable between a retracted position 11 and at least one extended position 13, 15.

[0049] The connection assembly 9 comprises an elongate slat track 17 that extends along a track longitudinal axis 19 between a front end 21 and a rear end 23 and has an intermediate portion 25 between the front and rear ends 21, 23. The front end 21 of the slat track 17 is fixedly mounted to the slat 7. The rear end 23 and the intermediate portion 25 of the slat track 17 are movably mounted to the main wing 5 by a roller bearing 27 such that the slat track 17 is movable along the track longitudinal axis 19. The roller bearing 27 comprises a guide rail 29 fixedly mounted to the main wing 5 and a first roller unit 31 fixedly mounted to the rear end 23 of the slat track 17 and engaging the guide rail 29. The roller bearing 27 comprises a second roller unit 33 that is fixedly mounted to the main wing 5 and that engages an engagement surface 35 provided at the intermediate portion 25 of the slat track 17.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the slat track 17 has a double-C-shaped profile 37 comprising an upper flange portion 39, a lower flange portion 41 and at least one web portion 43 connecting upper and lower flange portions 39, 41. The second roller unit 33 is arranged in a recess 45 between upper and lower flange portions 39, 41 and engages the engagement surface 35 provided at the upper flange portion 39 and at the lower flange portion 41.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the double-C-shaped profile 37 of the slat track 17 provides that a first recess 45a is formed between the upper and lower flange portions 39, 41 at a first side 47 of the web portion 43, and a second recess 45b is formed between the upper and lower flange portions 39, 41 at a second side 49 of the web portion 43 opposite the first side 47. The second roller unit 33 comprises a first roller element 51 and a second roller element 53. The first roller element 51 is arranged in the first recess 45a and the second roller element 53 is arranged in the second recess 45b.

[0052] First and second roller elements 51, 53 are arranged coaxially and have the same radius. The first roller element 51 is mounted on a first shaft 55 and the second roller element 53 is mounted on a second shaft 57 separate from the first shaft 55. First and second shafts 55, 57 are independently supported at the main wing 5.

[0053] FIGS. 3-5 show that the slat track 17 comprises a first track part 59 and a second track part 61 that are formed separate from one another. Each of the first and second track parts 59, 61 is formed integrally and extends along the track longitudinal axis 19 from the rear end 23 to the front end 21.

[0054] The first and second track parts 59, 61 are mounted to one another by bolts 63 and rest against one another along a contact plane 65 spanned by the track longitudinal axis 19 and a wing thickness direction 67. As visible in FIG. 3, the first roller unit 31 comprises a third roller element 69 and a fourth roller element 71. Third and fourth roller elements 69, 71 are arranged coaxially and have the same radius. The third roller element 69 is mounted to the first track part 59 and the fourth roller element 71 is mounted to the second track part 61. Alternatively, the first roller unit 31 might also comprise only a single third roller element 69.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the roller bearing 27 comprises a play-reduction roller unit 97. The play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the first roller unit 31 in contact with the guide rail 29 to avoid play between the first roller unit 31 and the guide rail 29, and urges the second roller unit 33 in contact with the engagement surface 35 to avoid play between the second roller unit 33 and the engagement surface 35. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the play-reduction roller unit 97 comprises a first play-reduction roller element 99 and a second play-reduction roller element 101 arranged adjacently in a coaxial manner, so that they rotate about a single play-reduction axis of rotation 103 parallel to the first and second axes of rotation 104, 106 of the first and second roller units 31, 33. The first play-reduction roller element 99 contacts the first track part 59 while the second play-reduction roller element 101 contacts the second track part 61.

[0056] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the play-reduction roller unit 97 is mounted to the main wing 5 and engages a surface of the slat track 17 at the intermediate portion 25. Specifically, the play-reduction roller unit 97 engages an upper surface 85 of the upper flange portion 39 of the slat track 17, in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the first roller unit 31 in contact with an upper rail surface 105 of a lower rail part 107 of the guide rail 29, and in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the second roller unit 33 in contact with the engagement surface 35 provided at a lower surface 90 of the upper flange portion 39.

[0057] Furthermore, the guide rail 29 is formed in a way of a slot including the lower rail part 107 with the upper rail surface 105 and an upper rail part 109 with a lower rail surface 111 opposite from the upper rail surface 105.

[0058] The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 by the guide rail 29 being formed in a one-sided way including only the lower rail part 107 with the upper rail surface 105, but not including any upper rail part with a lower rail surface opposite from the upper rail surface.

[0059] The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 by the play-reduction roller unit 97 engaging a lower surface 88 of the lower flange portion 41 of the slat track 17, in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the first roller unit 31 in contact with a lower rail surface 111 of an upper rail part 109 of the guide rail 29, and in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the second roller unit 33 in contact with the engagement surface 35 provided at an upper surface 86 of the lower flange portion 41.

[0060] The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 by the play-reduction roller unit 97 engaging the engagement surface 35 provided at a lower surface 90 of the upper flange portion 39 in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the second roller unit 33 in contact with the engagement surface 35 provided at an upper surface 86 of the lower flange portion 41.

[0061] The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 by the play-reduction roller unit 97 being mounted to the slat track 17 and engaging a surface of the guide rail 29. Specifically, the play-reduction roller unit 97 engages a lower rail surface 111 of an upper rail part 109 in such a way that the play-reduction roller unit 97 urges the first roller unit 31 in contact with an upper rail surface 105 of a lower rail part 107 opposite from the lower rail surface 111 of the upper rail part 109.

[0062] The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 or from the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 by the play-reduction roller unit 97 being mounted to the main wing 5 via an eccentric member 113 configured for adjusting the position of the play-reduction roller unit 97, specifically the position of the play reduction axis of rotation 103 and a circumferential roller surface 115 of the play-reduction roller unit 97, with respect to the slat track 17. The eccentric member 113 is formed as an eccentric shaft having a first shaft portion 115 and a second shaft portion 117 eccentric with respect to the first shaft portion 115. The first shaft portion 115 is mounted to two adjacent leading edge ribs 119 of the main wing 5 rotatably about a rigging axis of rotation 121. The second shaft portion 117 carries the play-reduction roller unit 97 in a way that the play reduction axis of rotation 103 is spaced apart from the rigging axis of rotation 121.

[0063] In such a way, when the first shaft portion 115 is rotated about the rigging axis of rotation 121, the second shaft portion 117 together with the play reduction axis of rotation 103 and the play-reduction roller unit 97 rotate about the rigging axis of rotation 121 in an eccentric manner, so that the distance of the roller surface 115 of the play-reduction roller unit 97 relative to the upper surface 85 of the upper flange portion 39 of the slat track 17, can be adjusted by rotating the first shaft portion 115 about the rigging axis of rotation 121.

[0064] Furthermore, a locking member 123 is provided for locking the first shaft portion 115 in a fixed angular position relative to the leading edge ribs 119 of the main wing 5, thereby locking the roller surface 115 in a fixed position or distance relative to the upper surface 85. The locking member 123 comprises a toothed lock bar 125 engaging a toothed outer surface 127 of the first shaft portion 115.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 1, the connection assembly 9 is a first connection assembly 91, and the wing 3 comprises a second connection assembly 93 connecting the slat 7 to the main wing 5 in a position spaced apart from the first connection assembly 91 in a wing span direction 95, and wherein the second connection assembly 93 is formed as the first connection assembly 91.

[0066] The described embodiments of the present invention enable efficient play reduction during deployment of the slat 7. By such a play reduction, precision of the slat setting positions, i.e. the retracted position 11 and the at least one extended position 13, 15, is increased. Further, the play reduction reduced wear on the slat track 17, on the guide rail 29, and on the first and second roller units 31, 33. Also, undesired vibration is avoided.

[0067] While at least one exemplary embodiment 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.