Airfoil arrangement for an aircraft

Abstract

An airfoil arrangement which allows an increased reliability and increased aerodynamic performance of airfoils. A catching bracket is provided which is mounted in a track device opening to reduce the area of the track device opening and, when there is a failure of at least one support roller, the catching bracket engages the track device.

Claims

1. An airfoil arrangement for an aircraft, comprising: a track device movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the track device being configured to support a movable edge member; a fixed edge member having an outer skin, the outer skin including a track device opening configured such that the track device moves through the track device opening when the track device is moved from the retracted position to the extended position; at least one support roller attached to the fixed edge member and configured for movably supporting the track device; and a catching bracket mounted within the track device opening so as to reduce an area of the track device opening and being configured such that, when there is a failure of at least one support roller, the catching bracket contacts the track device and transfers loads to the fixed edge member.

2. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the catching bracket comprises a bracket body that is configured for engaging the track device when there is a failure of the at least one support roller.

3. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the bracket body is configured for supporting the track device in a sliding manner.

4. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the catching bracket includes an aerodynamic portion which is configured to continuously extend the outer skin when the catching bracket is installed.

5. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the catching bracket includes an aerodynamic portion which is flush with the outer skin when the catching bracket is installed.

6. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the catching bracket comprises a blade seal configured for sealing a residual gap between the catching bracket and the track device.

7. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the catching bracket comprises an elastic sheet member configured to be installed with pre-tension such that the elastic sheet member is permanently engaging the track device to provide a permanent force-fitted connection between the track device and the fixed edge member.

8. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, the airfoil arrangement further comprising the movable edge member which is attached to the track device so as to be movable between the retracted position and the extended position.

9. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the movable edge member comprises an aft skin which faces the fixed edge member, wherein the aft skin and the catching bracket defines a flow gap which is configured to generate a nozzle-type flow from the lower side of the airfoil arrangement to the upper side thereof.

10. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the flow gap is tapered towards the upper side of the airfoil arrangement.

11. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the catching bracket comprises a mounting strap that is configured to be affixed to the fixed edge member.

12. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the mounting strap comprises at least one mounting flange configured for transferring side loads from the track device to the fixed edge member.

13. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the mounting strap comprises a liner portion configured to slidingly engage the track device, when a side load acts on the track device, to transfer the side load to the fixed edge member.

14. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fixed edge member comprises at least one of an inboard rib or an outboard rib.

15. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the catching bracket is configured to be fixed to the at least one of the inboard rib or the outboard rib.

16. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the support roller is fixed to the at least one of the inboard rib or the outboard rib.

17. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fixed edge member is a fixed leading edge member.

18. The airfoil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the movable edge member is a movable leading edge member.

19. A wing for an aircraft comprising an airfoil arrangement according to claim 1.

20. An aircraft comprising an airfoil arrangement according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts an aircraft according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a cross-section of an edge member;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a frontal view of the edge member;

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section of the edge member with installed catching bracket;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a detailed view of the installed catching bracket;

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a frontal view of the edge member with installed catching bracket;

(8) FIGS. 7 and 8 depict a variant of the catching bracket with a blade seal; and

(9) FIGS. 9 and 10 depict a variant of the catching bracket with an elastic sheet member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Reference is made to FIG. 1 which depicts an aircraft 10. The aircraft 10, in a usual manner, comprises a pair of wings 12. Each wing 12 is equipped with at least one high-lift device 14, for example a slat 16.

(11) The wing 12 and the high-lift device 14 may form an airfoil arrangement 18, as depicted in FIG. 2, for example.

(12) Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the airfoil arrangement 18 comprises a fixed edge member 20. The fixed edge member 20 may be configured as a fixed leading edge member 22.

(13) The airfoil arrangement 18 may further include a movable edge member 24. The movable edge member 24 may be configured as a movable leading edge member 26. The movable edge member 24 may be, for example, the high-lift device 14. In particular, the movable leading edge member 26 may be the slat 16.

(14) The airfoil arrangement 18 further includes a track device 28. The track device 28 can be moved between at least one extended position and a retracted position. The track device 28 is further configured to support the movable edge member 24. In particular, the track device 28 comprises a link 30, which connects the track device 28 with the movable edge member 24.

(15) The track device 28 may further include a movable roller 32. The movable roller 32 is fixed to the track device 28 and movable relative to the fixed edge member 20.

(16) The fixed edge member 20 comprises a plurality of ribs 34. The ribs 34 are spaced apart from each other in a spanwise direction, for example.

(17) The fixed edge member 20 may further comprise a guiding rail arrangement 36. The guiding rail arrangement 36 is preferably attached to the ribs 34. The guiding rail arrangement 36 may include an upper guiding rail 38 and a lower guiding rail 40. The upper guiding rail 38 and the lower guiding rail 40 are parallel and curved.

(18) The guiding rail arrangement 36 is configured such that the track device 28, in particular the movable roller 32, engages the guiding rail arrangement 36. Thus, the track device 28 is supported on one end by the guiding rail arrangement 36. Hence, a load applied to the track device 28 is transferred via the movable roller 32 through the guiding rail arrangement 36 into the rib 34 (first load path).

(19) The fixed edge member 20 may further comprise a support roller 42. The support roller 42 is fixed to the rib 34. The support roller 42 engages the track device 28, so as to support the track device 28. The support roller 42 is also known as a forward roller 44.

(20) The fixed edge member 20 further comprises an outer skin 46, which forms an aerodynamic surface. The outer skin 46 includes a track device opening 48. The track device opening 48 may be formed as a cut-out of the outer skin 46. The track device opening 48 allows for the track device 28 to move between the retracted position and the extended position.

(21) A forward edge portion 50 of the outer skin 46 and an upper surface 52 of the track device 28 define a gap portion 54. The gap portion 54 may be defined in the spanwise direction by the ribs 34, i.e., an inboard rib 56 and an outboard rib 58.

(22) Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, a catching bracket 60 is installed. The catching bracket 60 is arranged within the track device opening 48, in particular within the gap portion 54.

(23) The catching bracket 60 is aerodynamically formed and flush with the outer skin 46. The catching bracket 60 includes a track device engaging surface 62. The track device engaging surface 62 is preferably arranged on the lower side of the catching bracket 60. The track device engaging surface 62 may be configured as a sliding surface 64. The track device engaging surface 62 may comprise a PTFE liner 66.

(24) The catching bracket 60 is preferably attached to the ribs 34, i.e., the inboard rib 56 and the outboard rib 58.

(25) The catching bracket 60 may comprise a bracket body 68. The bracket body 68 may include the track device engaging surface 62 on its lower side. On its upper side, the bracket body 68 may include an aerodynamic surface 70. Preferably, the aerodynamic surface 70 is flush with the outer skin 46. The bracket body 68 may be formed as a massive body from aluminum or titanium, for example.

(26) The catching bracket 60 may further include a mounting strap 72. The mounting strap 72, when viewed from the front (FIG. 6), is substantially U-shaped and comprises an inboard flange and an outboard flange 76. The mounting strap 72 is used to fix the catching bracket 60 to the fixed edge member 20, by attaching the inboard flange 74 to the inboard rib 56 and the outboard flange 76 to the outboard rib 58.

(27) When installed, the catching bracket 60, in particular the bracket body 68, and the track device 28 form a residual gap 78. The residual gap 78 is substantially smaller than the gap portion 54. Thus, the area of the track device opening 48 is reduced.

(28) The mounting strap 72, in particular the inboard flange 74 and the outboard flange 76, may form a sideload transfer surface 80. The sideload transfer surface 80 may also be configured as a sliding surface which can be covered in a PTFE liner.

(29) Subsequently, the effects of the catching bracket 60 are described in more detail.

(30) During normal operation, the catching bracket 60 reduces the size of the gap portion 54 down to the residual gap 78. As a result, the catching bracket 60 and an aft-skin 86 of the movable edge member 24 form a nozzle-like portion 88, when viewed in a cross section (FIG. 4).

(31) Thus, an airflow 90 from the lower side of the airfoil arrangement 18 flows to the upper side of the airfoil arrangement 18. However, in contrast to a configuration without the catching bracket 60, the airflow 90 is less disturbed, thereby allowing for an increased angle of attack.

(32) Furthermore, during operation, when a side load is applied to the movable edge member 24, for example, the side load may be transferred from the track device 28 via the side load transfer surface 80 to the ribs 34, thereby providing a load path.

(33) In addition, if for some reason the support roller 42 has a failure, the track device 28 will move in such a way that the track device 28 engages the catching bracket 60, in particular, the bracket body 68, at the track device engaging surface 62. Hence, the residual gap 78 is closed.

(34) However, since the track device engaging surface 62 is configured to support the track device 28 in a sliding manner, operation of the airfoil arrangement, i.e., movement of the movable edge member 24 may be retained, even in this failure condition.

(35) In a variant of the catching bracket 60, as is depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, the catching bracket 60 further includes a blade seal 92, which almost completely seals the residual gap 78.

(36) In another variant of the catching bracket 60, as depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the catching bracket 60 comprises an elastic sheet member 94, which is installed having a pre-tension such that the elastic sheet member 94 is permanently engaging the track device 28. Thereby, a permanent force fitted connection between the track device 28 and the fixed edge member 20 is generated.

(37) It should be noted that the variants may be implemented simultaneously.

(38) 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(39) 10 aircraft 12 wing 14 high-lift device 16 slat 18 airfoil arrangement 20 fixed edge member 22 fixed leading edge member 24 movable edge member 26 movable leading edge member 28 track device 30 link 32 movable roller 34 rib 36 guiding rail arrangement 38 upper guiding rail 40 lower guiding rail 42 support roller 44 forward roller 46 outer skin 48 track device opening 50 forward edge portion 52 upper surface 54 gap portion 56 inboard rib 58 outboard rib 60 catching bracket 62 track device engaging surface 64 sliding surface 66 PTFE liner 68 bracket body 70 aerodynamic surface 72 mounting strap 74 inboard flange 76 outboard flange 78 residual gap 80 side load transfer surface 82 sliding surface 84 PTFE line 86 aft skin 88 nozzle-like portion 90 air flow 92 blade seal 94 elastic sheet member