Spoiler for an Aircraft Bay

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016121996-A1
Application number	US-201414203636-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for managing an airflow of an aircraft. A spoiler is moved into the airflow passing a bay of the aircraft when the bay is open. The airflow moving relative to the bay is changed to form a desired airflow using louvers physically associated with a frame system in the spoiler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a frame system configured to move relative to a bay in an aircraft; and louvers physically associated with the frame system, wherein the louvers are configured to change an airflow moving relative to the bay when the bay is open to form a desired airflow.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the desired airflow results in at least one of a desired level of noise, preventing a payload from becoming uncontrollable, or avoiding contact between the aircraft and the payload exiting the bay of the aircraft in flight.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the desired airflow is a redirected laminar airflow moving relative to the bay.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in being configured to change the airflow moving relative to the bay when the bay is open to form the desired airflow, the louvers change the airflow such that turbulence in the airflow is reduced when the bay is open.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame system is configured to move between a stowed position and an active position and the louvers change the airflow relative to the bay in a desired manner after the louvers are in the airflow outside of the bay when the frame system is in the active position.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a movement system configured to move at least one of the frame system or the louvers within the frame system to a desired orientation when the frame system is outside of the bay.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the frame system is configured to move about a number of axes to move to the desired orientation when the frame system is outside of the bay.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the louvers are moved when the aircraft is located in a location selected from at least one of on a ground or in air.

9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the louvers are configured to move in response to changes in the airflow to obtain the desired airflow moving relative to the bay when the bay is open and the desired airflow results in at least one of a desired level of noise, preventing a payload from becoming uncontrollable, or avoiding contact between the aircraft and the payload exiting the bay of the aircraft in flight.

10 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the louvers are moved based on a payload in the bay to be separated from the aircraft.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bay is selected from one of a weapons bay, a cargo bay, and a wheel well for landing gear.

12 . An aircraft airflow management system comprising:
a group of frames configured to move between a stowed position in a bay of an aircraft and an active position outside the bay of the aircraft; and louvers physically associated with the group of frames, wherein the louvers are configured to change an airflow relative to the bay after the louvers are in the airflow outside of the bay in a desired manner when the bay is open to form a desired airflow and the group of frames are in the active position and wherein the desired airflow results in at least one of a desired level of noise, preventing a payload from becoming uncontrollable, or avoiding contact between the aircraft and the payload exiting the bay of the aircraft in flight.

13 . The aircraft airflow management system of claim 12 , wherein the group of frames is configured to move about a number of axes to move to a desired orientation when a frame system is outside of the bay.

14 . The aircraft airflow management system of claim 12 , wherein the louvers are configured to move in response to changes in the airflow to obtain a desired airflow moving relative to the bay when the bay is open.

15 . The aircraft airflow management system of claim 12 , wherein the desired airflow is a redirected laminar airflow moving relative to the bay.

16 . The aircraft airflow management system of claim 12 , wherein in being configured to change the airflow moving relative to the bay when the bay is open to form the desired airflow, an increase in turbulence in the airflow is reduced.

17 . A method for managing an airflow for an aircraft, the method comprising:
moving a spoiler into the airflow passing a bay of the aircraft when the bay is open; and changing the airflow moving relative to the bay to form a desired airflow using louvers physically associated with a frame system in the spoiler.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
moving the louvers within the frame system to a desired orientation when the frame system is outside of the bay.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
moving the louvers within the frame system to a desired orientation prior to flight of the aircraft.

20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
moving the frame system to a desired orientation when the frame system is in an active position outside of the bay, wherein the frame system is configured to move about a number of axes to move to the desired orientation when the frame system is outside of the bay.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Eveker James Vincent
• Huhman Patrick Dale
• Crites Cindy Lee

Classifications

• B64C23/005 Primary

  by other means not covered by groups B64C23/02 - B64C23/08, e.g. by electric charges, magnetic panels, piezoelectric elements, static charges or ultrasounds · CPC title

• B64C5/12 Primary

  for retraction against or within fuselage or nacelle · CPC title

• B64C2220/00

  Active noise reduction systems · CPC title

• B64C9/326

  associated with fuselages · CPC title

• Y02T50/10

  Drag reduction · CPC title