US3904152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable area, variable camber wing for aircraft
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-13
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1994-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism is provided for both extending the chord of a wing by more than seventy percent and for increasing the camber of the wing without creating the high pitching moment characteristics of conventional high lift wing systems. These advantageous capabilities are accomplished by constructing forward and aft wing sections which cover the wing box beam and form a high wing loading cruise flight wing. The sections can be extended and deflected to uncover the wing box beam and form a greatly increased area to lower the wing loading and an increased camber with low pitching moment to provide high lift for short take-off and landing.
Inventors
- 👤 T Gardner Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:29
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C3/00; B64C3/38; B64C3/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A variable area, variable camber wing for aircraft comprising a central, spanwise box beam, a leaDing and a trailing edge section disposed around the respective fore and aft ends of said box beam, and an engagement and drive mechanism between each of said leading and said trailing edge sections and said box beam for movement of said sections to and from extreme positions where the adjacent spanwise edges of said sections abut one another to thereby completely enclose said box beam and where the adjacent spanwise edges of said sections are remote from one another to thereby uncover said box beam and extend from opposite, chordwise ends thereof, each said engagement and drive mechanism including a connection at and along the upper and lower extremity of the associated section to thereby react the loads from said sections simultaneously at both top and bottom chordwise edges of said sections and to establish the path of movement of said sections to and from their extreme positions corresponding to the contour of said sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A variable area, variable camber wing for aircraft comprising a central, spanwise box beam, a leaDing and a trailing edge section disposed around the respective fore and aft ends of said box beam, and an engagement and drive mechanism between each of said leading and said trailing edge sections and said box beam for movement of said sections to and from extreme positions where the adjacent spanwise edges of said sections abut one another to thereby completely enclose said box beam and where the adjacent spanwise edges of said sections are remote from one another to thereby uncover said box beam and extend from opposite, chordwise ends thereof, each said engagement and drive mechanism including a connection at and along the upper and lower extremity of the associated section to thereby react the loads from said sections simultaneously at both top and bottom chordwise edges of said sections and to establish the path of movement of said sections to and from their extreme positions corresponding to the contour of said sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The wing of claim 1 wherein each said leading and trailing edge section includes multiple spanwise segments having chordwise edges which engage and coact with complementary stationary edges secured to said box beam and interconnecting mechanisms between said spanwise segments for the movement thereof in unison.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wing of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said box beam has a selected rate of curvature greater than that of the upper surface of each of said leading and trailing edge sections in the region thereof adapted to overlie said box beam as aforesaid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The wing of claim 1 wherein said engagement and drive mechanism further includes tracks carried by said box beam complemental to gear tooth racks carried by said leading and trailing edge sections, spur gears secured to said box beam and operatively engaging said gear tooth racks, and a drive for the rotation of said spur gears.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wing of claim 4 wherein said tracks and said gear tooth racks each have a rate of curvature substantially the same as that of the upper box beam surface aforesaid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
The wing of claim 1 including an extension on the aft end of said box beam, a rib projecting aft from the upper and lower sides of said extension at spaced intervals along the length thereof, and a closure panel at the forward end of said trailing edge section secured to the aft end of each said rib whereby movement of said trailing edge section to its extreme position uncovering said box beam aforesaid produces a channel for the passage of air from the under surface of said wing to the upper surface of said wing at and along the forward edge of said trailing edge section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The wing of claim 1 wherein said engagement and drive mechanism includes at least one chordwise rail carried by and projecting outwardly from each upper and lower side of said box beam, and a complemental channel member carried by each leading and trailing edge section to receive and slidingly engage each said rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The wing of claim 1 including an extendible drive connected at opposite ends to the upper ends of said box beam and said trailing edge section and operative to deflect said trailing edge section downward relative to said beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wing of claim 2 including chordwise support islands secured to and enclosing said box beam at and along the chordwise edges of each spanwise segment aforesaid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The wing of claim 9 wherein said engagement and drive mechanisms includes at least one chordwise rail carried by and projecting outwardly from each upper and lower side of said box beam between each of the adjacent support islands aforesaid, and a complemental channel carried by each leading and trailing edge section to receive and slidingly engage each said rail.
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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) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |