Extruded wing protection system and device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535361-B2
Application number	US-202016907480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2020
Priority date	Nov 11, 2016
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for an extruded wing protection and control surface comprising: a channel proximate a leading edge of the control surface, a knuckle disposed about the channel, a leading void, a trailing void, and a separator dividing the leading void and the trailing void; and a plurality of notches disposed in the extruded control surface proximate the leading edge of the control surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an extruded control surface comprising:
a channel proximate a leading edge of the control surface; and
a knuckle disposed about the channel, wherein the knuckle comprises a semi-circular portion and a leading edge portion, wherein the semi-circular portion comprises a semi-circular cross-section proximate a top side of the control surface, and wherein the leading edge portion extends from the semi-circular portion toward a bottom side of the control surface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the extruded control surface further comprises:
a leading void;
a trailing void; and
a separator dividing the leading void and the trailing void.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of notches disposed in the extruded control surface.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of notches are disposed proximate the leading edge of the control surface.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of clips, wherein each of the plurality of clips comprise at least one pin disposed proximate a base of the clip;
wherein the at least one pin of each clip is received by the knuckle of the control surface via the channel, wherein the knuckle is the only part of the extruded control surface that deforms to accept the pin, and wherein the control surface pivots about each pin.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:
at least one cuff, wherein the at least one cuff receives an end of the control surface in a first cavity of the cuff, wherein the at least one cuff further comprises: a second cavity disposed on a side distal from the first cavity, wherein the second cavity is distal from the first cavity; and
a servo adapter, wherein the second cavity is sized to receive the servo adapter for controlling the control surface.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein each clip of the plurality of clips further comprise:
a first leg comprising a first protrusion for insertion into an indentation on a top surface of a wing, wherein each pin is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the first leg; and
a second leg comprising a second protrusion for insertion into an indentation on a bottom surface of a wing.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein each pin is tapered, and wherein a narrow end of each pin is distal from the base.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the trailing void is proximate to a trailing edge of the control surface.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the knuckle comprises an opening facing towards a bottom surface of the control surface.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the control surface is made from an Ultraviolet (UV) resistant plastic.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the control surface is made from a polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC-ABS).

13. A method comprising:
extruding a control surface, wherein the extruded control surface comprises a channel proximate a leading edge of the control surface and a knuckle disposed about the channel, wherein the knuckle comprises a semi-circular portion and a leading edge portion, wherein the semi-circular portion comprises a semi-circular cross-section proximate a top side of the control surface, and wherein the leading edge portion extends from the semi-circular portion toward a bottom side of the control surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the knuckle comprises an opening facing towards a bottom surface of the control surface.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
cutting the control surface at a set length.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
milling a plurality of notches into the cut control surface proximate the leading edge of the control surface.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
attaching a cuff to an end of the cut control surface, wherein the control surface is received in a first cavity of the cuff.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
attaching at least one pin of each clip of a plurality of clips to the knuckle of the extruded control surface, wherein the knuckle is the only part of the extruded control surface that deforms to accept the pin, and wherein the control surface pivots about each pin.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the extruded control surface further comprises: a leading void, a trailing void, and a separator dividing the leading void and the trailing void, wherein the trailing void is proximate to a trailing edge of the control surface.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the separator is narrower in width than an outside width of the control surface.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Belik Pavel
• Zwaan John Peter

Classifications

• B64C3/36

  Structures adapted to reduce effects of aerodynamic or other external heating · CPC title

• B64C3/24 Primary

  Moulded or cast structures · CPC title

• B64C9/02

  Mounting or supporting thereof · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title