Apparatus for attaching aerodynamically functional films and use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12263939-B2
Application number	US-202017779583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2020
Priority date	Nov 28, 2019
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus is for attaching an aerodynamically functional film to a surface of a body around which flow passes. The apparatus includes: a self-adhesive, redetachable positioning film having positioning aids for the exact positioning of the positioning film on the surface of the body around which flow passes and having at least one application area for the aerodynamically functional film that is to be applied.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A kit for attaching an aerodynamically functional film to a surface of a body around which flow passes, the kit comprising:
an apparatus for attaching the aerodynamically functional film to the surface of the body, the apparatus comprising a self-adhesive, detachable positioning film having positioning aids for the exact positioning of the positioning film on the surface of the body, and having at least one application area for the aerodynamically functional film that is to be applied; and
the aerodynamically functional film, which is self-adhesive and configured to adhere to the surface of the body while the positioning film is attached, and is configured to remain on the surface of the body when the positioning film is subsequently removed, the aerodynamically functional film being provided in the at least one application area.

2. The kit as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the aerodynamically functional film is configured to be arranged on a portion of the surface of the body enclosed within the positioning film in such a way that after attachment of the aerodynamically functional film and subsequent removal of the positioning film, a desired alignment of the aerodynamically functional film is achieved.

3. The kit as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the aerodynamically functional film has openings or slots in the form of cutouts for locations to be kept free on the surface of the body around which flow passes.

4. The kit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamically functional film is a riblet film and the body around which flow passes is a body of an aircraft or an aircraft wing.

5. The apparatus kit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamically functional film is configured to be arranged, in an installed state, entirely within the positioning film in such a way that the positioning film protrudes beyond the aerodynamically functional film, and the protruding portions of the positioning film comprises the positioning aids.

6. An apparatus for attaching an aerodynamically functional film to a surface of a body around which flow passes, the apparatus comprising:
a self-adhesive, detachable positioning film having positioning aids for the exact positioning of the positioning film on the surface of the body and having at least one application area,
wherein an application window, within which the aerodynamically functional film is configured to be applied to the surface of the body after attachment of the positioning film, is provided in the at least one application area.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 ,
wherein the positioning film has, in a region of the application window, alignment aids configured to align the aerodynamically functional film to be applied.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 ,
wherein an outline of the application window is matched to a shape of the aerodynamically functional film to be attached within the application window.

9. A kit for attaching an aerodynamically functional film to a surface of a body around which flow passes, the kit comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and the aerodynamically functional film matched to the outline of the application window.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the outline of the application window is not symmetrical.

11. A method for attaching an aerodynamically functional film to a surface of a body around which flow passes, the method comprising:
a) applying a self-adhesive, detachable positioning film to the surface of the body, the positioning film having positioning aids predefining a positioning of the positioning film on the surface of the body and having an application area, the applying of the positioning film being in the position predefined by the positioning aids;
b) applying the aerodynamically functional film to the surface of the body around which flow passes in the application area of the positioning film; and
c) removing the positioning film.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 ,
wherein the aerodynamically functional film is provided in the application area of the positioning film, and
wherein steps a) and b) are carried out at the same time.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11 ,
wherein the aerodynamically functional film is a riblet film and/or the body around which flow passes is an aircraft or an aircraft wing.

Assignees

• Lufthansa Technik Ag

Inventors

• Oeser Oliver
• Trottnow Dirk
• Flanschger Andreas
• Pfingsten Kai-Christoph

Classifications

• B64C2230/26

  by using rib lets or hydrophobic surfaces · CPC title

• B64F5/10

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

• F15D1/0085

  Methods of making characteristic surfaces for influencing the boundary layer · CPC title

• F15D1/0035

  in the form of riblets · CPC title

• Y02T50/10

  Drag reduction · CPC title