Patent US5156358A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5156358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft outboard control
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1991-04-11
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Granted: 1992-10-20
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Expires: 2011-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An outboard control surface for an aircraft. The control surface is operably connected to wing side edges of the aircraft and includes a forward flap and a rearward flap with at least one of the flaps being movable into and out of alignment with the plane of the wing.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz A. Gerhardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:19
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C23/00; B64C23/06; B64C23/065; B64C23/069; B64C23/072; B64C23/076; B64C5/00; B64C5/08; B64C5/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An aircraft having a longitudinal axis and adopted for airborne flight through an airstream comprising: a main wing having a general wing plane said wing extending laterally to long side edges in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and free of structure therealong which would interfere with tip vortex upwash formation as the aircraft moves through said airstream; leading edge flaps operably connected to a front portion of said main wing; trailing edge flaps operably connected to a rear portion of said main wing; and outboard control surfaces operably connected to wing tips of said main wing proximate said main wing rear portion so that as said aircraft moves through said airstream a tip vortex is created along said edge which extends along said edge producing an upwash in the region of said control surfaces for interaction therewith, said outboard control surfaces each including a forward flap and a rearward flap, at least one of said flaps for each of said outboard control surfaces being movable into and out of alignment with said plane of said main wing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An aircraft having a longitudinal axis and adopted for airborne flight through an airstream comprising: a main wing having a general wing plane said wing extending laterally to long side edges in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and free of structure therealong which would interfere with tip vortex upwash formation as the aircraft moves through said airstream; leading edge flaps operably connected to a front portion of said main wing; trailing edge flaps operably connected to a rear portion of said main wing; and outboard control surfaces operably connected to wing tips of said main wing proximate said main wing rear portion so that as said aircraft moves through said airstream a tip vortex is created along said edge which extends along said edge producing an upwash in the region of said control surfaces for interaction therewith, said outboard control surfaces each including a forward flap and a rearward flap, at least one of said flaps for each of said outboard control surfaces being movable into and out of alignment with said plane of said main wing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein said outboard control surfaces each comprise a center panel between said forward and rearward flaps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An aircraft as in claim 2 wherein said panels are pivotably connected to said main wing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein said forward and rearward flaps are pivotably connected to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein said rearward flaps extend behind said main wing rear portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An aircraft as in claim 4 wherein said rearward flaps are pivotably connected to said main wing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tailless aircraft comprising: a main wing having a front, a rear, and two distal wing side edges, said side edges being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and free of structure therealong which would interfere with tip vortex upwash formation as the aircraft moves through said airstream; leading edge flaps operably connected to said main wing front; trailing edge flaps operably connected to said main wing rear; and outboard control surfaces operably connected to said main wing proximate each of said wing side edges so that as said aircraft moves through said airstream a tip vortex is created along said edge which extends along said edge producing an upwash in the region of said control surfaces for interaction therewith, said outboard control surfaces each having two movable sections that are generally perpendicular to each other and movable relative to said main wing in two paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tailless aircraft comprising: a main wing having a front, a rear, and two distal wing side edges, said side edges being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and free of structure therealong which would interfere with tip vortex upwash formation as the aircraft moves through said airstream; leading edge flaps operably connected to said main wing front; trailing edge flaps operably connected to said main wing rear; and outboard control surfaces operably connected to said main wing proximate each of said wing side edges so that as said aircraft moves through said airstream a tip vortex is created along said edge which extends along said edge producing an upwash in the region of said control surfaces for interaction therewith, said outboard control surfaces each having two movable sections that are generally perpendicular to each other and movable relative to said main wing in two paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An aircraft as in claim 7 wherein said outboard control surfaces are connected to said rear of said main wing at said wing side edges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An aircraft as in claim 7 wherein said sections are axially rotatable relative to said main wing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An aircraft as in claim 7 wherein said sections are pivotally connected to said main wing in a same axis of rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
An aircraft comprising: a main wing extending laterally to side edges in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and free of structure therealong which would interfere with tip vortex upwash formation as the aircraft moves through said airstream; leading edge flaps operably connected to said wing; trailing edge flaps operably connected to said wing; and outboard control surfaces connected to distal ends of said wing so that as said aircraft moves through said airstream a tip vortex is created along said edge which extends along said edge producing an upwash in the region of said outboard control surfaces for interaction therewith, said outboard control surfaces each having two independently movable flaps, a forward flap and a rearward flap, said forward and rearward flaps being movable into and out of alignment with a plane of said wing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
An aircraft comprising: a main wing extending laterally to side edges in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and free of structure therealong which would interfere with tip vortex upwash formation as the aircraft moves through said airstream; leading edge flaps operably connected to said wing; trailing edge flaps operably connected to said wing; and outboard control surfaces connected to distal ends of said wing so that as said aircraft moves through said airstream a tip vortex is created along said edge which extends along said edge producing an upwash in the region of said outboard control surfaces for interaction therewith, said outboard control surfaces each having two independently movable flaps, a forward flap and a rearward flap, said forward and rearward flaps being movable into and out of alignment with a plane of said wing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An aircraft as in claim 11 wherein said outboard control surfaces comprise a center panel between said forward and rearward flaps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An aircraft as in claim 12 wherein said panels are pivotally connected to said wing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An aircraft as in claim 11 wherein said forward and rearward flaps are pivotally connected to each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An aircraft as in claim 11 wherein said rearward flaps extend partially behind said wing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An aircraft as in claim 14 wherein said rearward flaps are pivotally connected to 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) | 1995-10-20 | 1996-04-20 | 1996-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-20 | 2000-04-20 | 2000-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-20 | 2004-04-20 | 2004-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |