Coupling device, wing assembly for an aircraft comprising such coupling device and aircraft comprising such wing assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364018-B2
Application number	US-201615213636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2016
Priority date	Jul 21, 2015
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A coupling device for supporting a first wing section against a second wing section of an aircraft, and configured for passive flight load alleviation includes a housing including a chamber including a first portion and a second portion and filled with a fluid, a piston device movably arranged in the chamber and separating the first portion from the second portion in a fluid tight manner, a first fluid pathway connecting the first portion to the second portion, a first pressure relief valve arranged in the first fluid pathway and blocking the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is smaller than a first relief pressure and opening the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is greater than the first relief pressure. In addition, the coupling device can be used to actuate the second wing section against the first wing section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coupling device for supporting a first component against a second component of an aircraft wherein the first component and the second component are movable relative to each other and exposed to aerodynamic loads, the coupling device being configured for passive flight load alleviation and comprising:
a housing comprising a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a first portion and a second portion and is filled with a fluid;
a piston device movably arranged in the chamber, wherein the piston device separates the first portion from the second portion in a fluid tight manner, a first fluid pathway connecting the first portion to the second portion and defined by at least one wall of the housing;
a first pressure relief valve arranged in the first fluid pathway, wherein the first pressure relief valve is configured to block the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is smaller than a first relief pressure, and to open the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is greater than the first relief pressure.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first throttle element arranged in the first fluid pathway.

3. The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second fluid pathway connecting the first portion to the second portion and defined by at least one wall of the housing,
wherein a second pressure relief valve is arranged in the second fluid pathway, and
wherein the second pressure relief valve is configured to block the second fluid pathway, if the pressure in the first portion is smaller than a second relief pressure and to open the second fluid pathway, if the pressure in the first portion is greater than the second relief pressure, and
a second throttle element arranged in the first fluid pathway.

4. The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
at least two first pressure relief valves arranged in the first fluid pathway in parallel, wherein the first relief pressures of each of the first relief pressure valves differ and wherein each first pressure relief valve is configured to be remotely locked; and
at least two second pressure relief valves arranged in the second fluid pathway in parallel, wherein the second relief pressures of each of the second relief pressure valves differ and wherein each second pressure relief valve is configured to be remotely locked.

5. The coupling device according to claim 3 , further comprising at least one of:
at least two first throttle elements arranged in the first fluid pathway in parallel, wherein each first throttle element is configured to be remotely blocked; and
at least two second throttle elements arranged in the second fluid pathway in parallel, wherein each second throttle element is configured to be remotely blocked.

6. The coupling device according to claim 3 , further comprising at least one of:
a third fluid pathway connecting the first portion to a first opening and a first check valve arranged in the third pathway; and
a fourth fluid pathway connecting the second portion to a second opening and a second check valve arranged in the fourth pathway.

7. The coupling device according to claim 6 , further comprising at least one of:
a first actuator configured to actuate the first check valve; and
a second actuator configured to actuate the second check valve.

8. The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a first attachment portion for attaching the housing to a first wing section; and
a second attachment portion for attaching the piston to a second wing section, and
a first bearing attached to a free end of the first attachment portion for rotatably attaching the first attachment portion to the first wing section; and
a second bearing attached to a free end of the second attachment portion for rotatably attaching the second attachment portion to the second wing section.

9. The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a position sensor for measuring the position of the piston device in the chamber.

10. The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid pump for pumping fluid to the third fluid pathway and/or the fourth fluid pathway.

11. A wing assembly for an aircraft, comprising
a first wing section;
a second wing section rotatably attached to the first wing section; and
a coupling device supporting the second wing section with regard the first wing section, the coupling device comprising:
a housing comprising a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a first portion and a second portion and is filled with a fluid;
a piston device movably arranged in the chamber, wherein the piston device separates the first portion from the second portion in a fluid tight manner, a first fluid pathway connecting the first portion to the second portion and defined by at least one wall of the housing;
a first pressure relief valve arranged in the first fluid pathway, wherein the first pressure relief valve is configured to block the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is smaller than a first relief pressure, and to open the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is greater than the first relief pressure.

12. The wing assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one of:
a first support element arranged at the first wing section for being connected to a first bearing; and
a second support element arranged at the second wing section for being connected to a second bearing.

13. The wing assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one of:
a first support element arranged at the first wing section for being connected to the first bearing;
a second support element arranged at the second wing section for being connected to the second bearing;
a third wing section rotatably attached to the second wing section; and
a second coupling device supporting the third wing section with regard the second wing section.

14. An aircraft comprising at least one wing assembly-, the wing assembly comprising:
a first wing section;
a second wing section rotatably attached to the first wing section; and
a coupling device supporting the second wing section with regard the first wing section, the coupling device comprising:
a housing comprising a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a first portion and a second portion and is filled with a fluid;
a piston device movably arranged in the chamber, wherein the piston device separates the first portion from the second portion in a fluid tight manner, a first fluid pathway connecting the first portion to the second portion and defined by at least one wall of the housing;
a first pressure relief valve arranged in the first fluid pathway, wherein the first pressure relief valve is configured to block the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is smaller than a first relief pressure, and to open the first fluid pathway, if the pressure in the second portion is greater than the first relief pressure.

15. The aircraft according to claim 14 , wherein the aircraft is a blended wing body aircraft.

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Gmbh
• Airbus Group Ltd
• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Wildschek Andreas
• Storm Stefan
• Rolston Stephen
• Herring Martin

Classifications

• B64C2039/105

  of blended wing body type · CPC title

• B64C13/40

  using fluid pressure · CPC title

• B64C3/38 Primary

  Adjustment of complete wings or parts thereof · CPC title

• B64C39/00

  Aircraft not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C3/56

  Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft · CPC title