US3556439A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and high lift systems for making an aircraft wing more efficient for takeoffs and landings
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1968-11-22
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A highly efficient aircraft wing is formed by drooping the leading edge portion and extending a leading edge flap for transforming the wing into the most efficient condition for takeoff, and by drooping the leading edge portion and extending a multiplicity of leading edge flaps for transforming the wing into the most efficient condition for landing. Another method comprises extending a leading edge flap from retracted position in the leading edge portion of a wing for transforming the wing into the most efficient condition for takeoff, and extending three leading edge flaps from retracted position in the wing leading edge portion for transforming the wing into the most efficient condition for landing. At least two high lift systems for carrying out the above methods comprise mounting in the wing leading edge portion three interconnected, end-to-end, fore-and-aft, leading edge flaps and two different linkages for folding the three flaps internally of the leading edge portion operable by single and double actuators respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles P Autry
- 👤 Paul J Baumgaertner
- 👤 Eugene G Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:30
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C9/00; B64C9/14; B64C9/22; B64C9/26; B64C3/00; B64C3/38; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
In an aircraft with a wing having an optimum chord and camber for cruise flight, a method for making said wing more efficient for aircraft takeoffs and landings comprising: a. pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to the leading edge of said wing; b. extending said flap forwardly of said wing for increasing said wing chord and camber by a substantial amount for takeoff of said aircraft; c. pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap; d. pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a third flap to the leading edge of said second flap; and e. extending said three flaps forwardly and downwardly of said wing for increasing said wing chord and camber by a substantial amount greater than said takeoff wing chord and camber for landing of said aircraft. CM,2Ting foil having a leading edge portion for a vehicle operating in a fluid medium comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge or of a first flap to said lifting foil leading edge portion for movement from a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge portion downwardly and forwardly to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge; b. means for drooping said leading edge portion; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement form a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge or portion downwardly and forwardly of said first flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said lifting Foil from an efficient high-speed lifting foil to an efficient high lift lifting foil for takeoff, and for extending both said first and second flaps and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said lifting foil to an efficient higher lift lifting foil for landing,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
In an aircraft with a wing having an optimum chord and camber for cruise flight, a method for making said wing more efficient for aircraft takeoffs and landings comprising: a. pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to the leading edge of said wing; b. extending said flap forwardly of said wing for increasing said wing chord and camber by a substantial amount for takeoff of said aircraft; c. pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap; d. pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a third flap to the leading edge of said second flap; and e. extending said three flaps forwardly and downwardly of said wing for increasing said wing chord and camber by a substantial amount greater than said takeoff wing chord and camber for landing of said aircraft. CM,2Ting foil having a leading edge portion for a vehicle operating in a fluid medium comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge or of a first flap to said lifting foil leading edge portion for movement from a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge portion downwardly and forwardly to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge; b. means for drooping said leading edge portion; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement form a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge or portion downwardly and forwardly of said first flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said lifting Foil from an efficient high-speed lifting foil to an efficient high lift lifting foil for takeoff, and for extending both said first and second flaps and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said lifting foil to an efficient higher lift lifting foil for landing,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
A lifting foil having a leading edge portion for a vehicle operating in a fluid medium comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to said lifting foil for movement for a retracted position internally of said lifting foil to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge portion; b. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement form a retracted position internally of said lifting foil to an extended position forwardly of said extended first flap; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a third flap to the leading edge of said second flap for movement from a retracted position internally of said lifting foil to an extended position forwardly of said extended second flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap for converting said lifting foil from an efficient high-speed lifting foil to an efficient high lifting foil for takeoff, and for extending all three leading edge flaps for converting said lifting foil to an efficient higher lift lifting foil for landing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
A lifting foil having a leading edge portion for a vehicle operating in a fluid medium comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to said lifting foil for movement for a retracted position internally of said lifting foil to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge portion; b. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement form a retracted position internally of said lifting foil to an extended position forwardly of said extended first flap; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a third flap to the leading edge of said second flap for movement from a retracted position internally of said lifting foil to an extended position forwardly of said extended second flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap for converting said lifting foil from an efficient high-speed lifting foil to an efficient high lifting foil for takeoff, and for extending all three leading edge flaps for converting said lifting foil to an efficient higher lift lifting foil for landing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
An aircraft wing having a leading edge portion comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to said wing leading edge portion for movement form a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge portion downwardly and forwardly to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge; b. means for drooping said leading edge portion; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second to flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement from a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge portion downwardly and forwardly of said first flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said wing from an efficient high-speed wing to an efficient high lit wing for takeoff, and for extending both said first and second flaps and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said wing to an efficient higher lift wing for landing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
An aircraft wing having a leading edge portion comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to said wing leading edge portion for movement form a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge portion downwardly and forwardly to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge; b. means for drooping said leading edge portion; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second to flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement from a retracted position forming the lower surface of said leading edge portion downwardly and forwardly of said first flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said wing from an efficient high-speed wing to an efficient high lit wing for takeoff, and for extending both said first and second flaps and drooping said leading edge portion for converting said wing to an efficient higher lift wing for landing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
171 words
An aircraft wing having a leading edge portion comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to said wing for movement from a retracted position internally of asia said wing to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge portion; b. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement for a retracted position internally of said wing to an extended position forwardly of said extended first flap; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a third flap to the leading edge of said second flap for movement from a retracted position internally of said wing to an extended position forwardly of said extended second flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap for converting said wing from an efficient high-speed wing to an efficient high lift wing for takeoff, and for extending all three leading edge flaps for converting said wing to an efficient higher lift wing for landing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
An aircraft wing having a leading edge portion comprising: a. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a first flap to said wing for movement from a retracted position internally of asia said wing to an extended position forwardly of said leading edge portion; b. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a second flap to the leading edge of said first flap for movement for a retracted position internally of said wing to an extended position forwardly of said extended first flap; c. means for pivotally connecting the trailing edge of a third flap to the leading edge of said second flap for movement from a retracted position internally of said wing to an extended position forwardly of said extended second flap; and d. actuating means for extending said first flap for converting said wing from an efficient high-speed wing to an efficient high lift wing for takeoff, and for extending all three leading edge flaps for converting said wing to an efficient higher lift wing for landing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said first flap forms a portion substantially one-half of the lower surface of said leading edge portion when in retracted position for providing a more efficient wing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 6 wherein, said second flap forms a portion substantially one-half of the lower surface of said leading edge portion when in retracted position for providing a more efficient wing. MODIFICATION OF FIGURES 2-5
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said actuator means compRises two actuator means for extending said first flap for takeoff and for extending all three of said leading edge flaps for landing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said actuator means comprises two actuator means for drooping said leading edge portion and for extending said first flap for takeoff and for drooping said leading edge portion and for extending all three of said leading edge flaps for landing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said actuator means comprises two actuator means for extending said leading edge portion forwardly and downwardly and for extending said first flap for takeoff, and for extending said leading edge portion forwardly and downwardly and for extending all three of said leading edge flaps for landing. MODIFICATION OF FIGURES 1 and 6-9
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said actuator means comprises a single actuator means for extending said first flap for takeoff and for extending all three of said leading edge flaps for landing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said actuator means comprises one actuator means for drooping said leading edge portion and for extending said first flap for takeoff and for drooping said leading edge portion and for extending all three of said leading edge flaps for landing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
An aircraft wing as recited in claim 5 wherein, said actuator means comprises a single actuator means also for extending said leading edge portion forwardly and downwardly and for extending said first flap for takeoff, and for extending said leading edge portion forwardly and downwardly and for extending all three of said leading edge flaps for landing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
In an aircraft having a wing, a said wing comprising: a. a leading edge portion, said wing leading edge portion comprising upper and lower surfaces telescopic with upper and lower surfaces of said wing; and b. actuator means for simultaneously extending both said upper and lower telescopic surfaces of said leading edge portion outwardly and downwardly from said wing for efficiently increasing the aerodynamic chord and camber of said wing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
In an aircraft having a wing, a said wing comprising: a. a leading edge portion, said wing leading edge portion comprising upper and lower surfaces telescopic with upper and lower surfaces of said wing; and b. actuator means for simultaneously extending both said upper and lower telescopic surfaces of said leading edge portion outwardly and downwardly from said wing for efficiently increasing the aerodynamic chord and camber of said wing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |