US4566657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Span loaded flying wing control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-12-01
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Granted: 1986-01-28
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Expires: 2000-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A flying wing aircraft control for angle of attack and direction thereof, comprising retractile controlling surfaces rearward of the center of lift and along the trailing edges and extensible over the top and bottom cambers of the wing in spaced relation to the trailing portions thereof and with variable angular dispositions with respect to air flow over the cambers so as to establish the desired moment arm with respect to the lift center of the flying wing to control the same into and out of a nose-up attitude with respect to the line of flight and with respect to direction, as required.
Inventors
- 👤 Harlow B. Grow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:40
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C9/00; B64C9/14; B64C9/16; B64C9/20; B64C9/32; B64C9/323; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A flying wing aircraft control for inducing angle of attack and controlling the line of flight, and including; a wing having upper and lower cambered surfaces and a center of lift substantially forward of a trailing edge establishing a moment arm therebetween, upper and lower trailing edge pitch control surfaces aft of the center of lift and retractile substantially coincidental with the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the wing, lever means to space said upper and lower pitch control surfaces into the air stream above and below said upper and lower cambered surfaces of the wing and inclined upwardly with respect to the air stream continuing to flow over and under the wing for reaction downwardly at the trailing edge of the wing, and means positioning the lever means to extend and retract said pitch control surfaces for adjusting the downward force reaction on said moment arm and resultant pitch control of the flying wing aircraft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A flying wing aircraft control for inducing angle of attack and controlling the line of flight, and including; a wing having upper and lower cambered surfaces and a center of lift substantially forward of a trailing edge establishing a moment arm therebetween, upper and lower trailing edge pitch control surfaces aft of the center of lift and retractile substantially coincidental with the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the wing, lever means to space said upper and lower pitch control surfaces into the air stream above and below said upper and lower cambered surfaces of the wing and inclined upwardly with respect to the air stream continuing to flow over and under the wing for reaction downwardly at the trailing edge of the wing, and means positioning the lever means to extend and retract said pitch control surfaces for adjusting the downward force reaction on said moment arm and resultant pitch control of the flying wing aircraft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wing is of swept-back configuration placing the center of lift substantially forward of the trailing edge portion of the wing tips for maximizing the rotative moment arm applied by downward force of the said control surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper and lower control surfaces are retractile into pockets in the upper and lower cambered trailing surfaces of the wing to be flush therewith when fully retracted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper and lower control surfaces are flat planar members disposed spanwise in parallel relation to the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and extending rearwardly to swing the upper control surface into the air stream above the upper cambered surface of the trailing edge portion, to apply downward force at the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and extending forwardly to swing the lower control surface into the air stream below the lower cambered surface of the trailing edge portion, to apply downward force at the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and with integral arms extending rearwardly and forwardly respectively to swing the upper and lower control surfaces into the air stream above and below the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the trailing edge portion, to apply balanced downward force above and below the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherin the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and extending rearwardly and fixed to the upper control surface to swing upward and forwardly with increasing angular inclination into the air stream above the upper cambered surface of the trailing edge portion, to apply downward force at the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and extending forwardly and fixed to the lower control surface to swing downward and rearwardly with increasing angular inclination into the air stream below the lower cambered surface of the trailing edge portion, to apply downward force at the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and with integral arms extending rearwardly and forwardly respectively and fixed to the upper and lower control surfaces to swing the upper and lower control surfaces into the air streams above and below the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the trailing edge portion with increasing angular inclination, to apply balanced downward force above and below the trailing edge portion of the wing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means positioning the lever means operates in unison at opposite wing tips to equally apply the said downward force for increasing angle of attack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means positioning the lever means operates differentially at opposite wing tips to apply unequal drag force for rudder and aileron function to direct the aircraft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means positioning the lever means operates in unison and differentially at opposite wing tips to equally apply the said downward force for increasing angle of attack and to apply unequal drag force for rudder and aileron functions to direct the aircraft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
223 words
The flying wing aircraft control as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wing is of swept-back configuration placing the center of lift substantially forward of the trailing edge portion of the wing tips for maximizing the rotative moment arm applied by downward force of the said control surfaces, wherein the upper and lower control surfaces are flat planar members disposed spanwise in parallel relation to the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the trailing edge portion of the wing tips and are retractile into pockets in the upper and lower cambered trailing surfaces of the wing to be flush therewith when fully retracted, wherein the lever means is a first class lever disposed on a spanwise axis aft of the center of lift and with integral arms extending rearwardly and forwardly respectively and fixed to the upper and lower control surfaces to swing the upper and lower control surfaces into the air streams above and below the upper and lower cambered surfaces of the trailing edge portion with increasing angular inclination to apply balanced downward force above and below opposite wing tips, and wherein the means positioning the lever means operates in unison to equally apply the said downward force for increasing angle of attack and operates differentially to apply unequal drag forces for rudder and aileron functions to direct the aircraft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2406506A
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US2431449A
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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) | 1989-01-27 | 1989-07-29 | 1990-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-27 | 1993-07-29 | 1994-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-27 | 1997-07-29 | 1998-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |