US3570789A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-speed flight vehicle control
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1969-06-30
•
Granted: 1971-03-16
•
Expires: 1989-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle having supersonic and hypersonic flight capabilities equipped with a pair of elevons on the aft end of the body and disposed with hinge lines swept forward relative to the aircraft centerline at an angle less than 90*.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Rainey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:45
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C9/00; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/14; B64C39/00; B64C39/10; B64C2039/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An aerodynamic control system for an aircraft having supersonic or hypersonic atmospheric flight capabilities, the improvement therewith comprising a pair of elevons at the aft end of said fuselage providing longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic control of said aircraft, said elevons being provided with hinge lines swept forward relative to the aircraft centerline at a precision angle calculated less than 90* and whereby the control forces generated by movement of said elevons at supersonic or hypersonic speeds are in a plane that passes essentially through or aft of the aircraft center of gravity to thereby remove any adverse yawing moment of the aircraft during roll control produced by differential elevon deflection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An aerodynamic control system for an aircraft having supersonic or hypersonic atmospheric flight capabilities, the improvement therewith comprising a pair of elevons at the aft end of said fuselage providing longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic control of said aircraft, said elevons being provided with hinge lines swept forward relative to the aircraft centerline at a precision angle calculated less than 90* and whereby the control forces generated by movement of said elevons at supersonic or hypersonic speeds are in a plane that passes essentially through or aft of the aircraft center of gravity to thereby remove any adverse yawing moment of the aircraft during roll control produced by differential elevon deflection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
An aerodynamic control system for a high-speed flight vehicle capable of flight at supersonic and hypersonic speeds and provided with aerodynamic controls the output of which are free of adverse cross-coupling at supersonic and hypersonic speeds, the improvement comprising said aerodynamic controls being in the form of elevons, said elevons being provided with a precision calculated hinge line sweep angle relative to the centerline of said flight vehicle of less than 90* such that the output of said elevons is free of adverse cross-coupling at supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
An aerodynamic control system for a high-speed flight vehicle capable of flight at supersonic and hypersonic speeds and provided with aerodynamic controls the output of which are free of adverse cross-coupling at supersonic and hypersonic speeds, the improvement comprising said aerodynamic controls being in the form of elevons, said elevons being provided with a precision calculated hinge line sweep angle relative to the centerline of said flight vehicle of less than 90* such that the output of said elevons is free of adverse cross-coupling at supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the hinge sweep angle of said elevons is calculated by the equation: wherein XA and YA are the ordinates of the center of area of control of said elevons and Theta calc is the sweep angle of said hinge line of the elevons relative to the centerline of said aircraft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1764932A
Cited
US2511502A
Cited
US3104079A
Cited
US3143317A
Cited
US3204892A
Cited
US3289974A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |