Integral component with an active flow control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018134373-A1
Application number	US-201715854307-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 26, 2017
Priority date	Jul 3, 2015
Publication date	May 17, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flow body for a vehicle includes at least one planar skin section with an outer side, an inner side and at least one opening that penetrates the skin section, as well as at least one active flow control device that is designed for moving an air volume. The at least one active flow control device includes an air discharge section that is fluidically connected to the at least one opening, wherein the air discharge section and the at least one planar skin section are manufactured by a layer manufacturing process in the form an integral component that is free of joints, and wherein the air discharge section at least partially supports the skin section in a load-bearing fashion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flow body for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one planar skin section with an outer side, an inner side and at least one opening that penetrates the skin section; and at least one active flow control device configured to move an air volume; wherein the at least one active flow control device comprises an air discharge section that is fluidically connected to the at least one opening; wherein the air discharge section and the at least one planar skin section are manufactured by a layer manufacturing process and form an integral component that is free of joints; and wherein the air discharge section at least partially supports the skin section in a load-bearing fashion.

2 . The flow body of claim 1 , wherein the air discharge section comprises an elongate plenum chamber that encloses a space between the inner side of the skin section and a surface of the plenum chamber.

3 . The flow body of claim 2 , wherein the plenum chamber is connected to an air duct that at least sectionally extends into the plenum chamber and comprises a perforated region.

4 . The flow body of claim 3 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises at least one web connected to the air duct.

5 . The flow body of claim 3 , wherein the air duct is realized in the form of a material section that extends along an inner surface of the plenum chamber, between an inner side of the skin section and a spaced-part wall of the plenum chamber.

6 . The flow body of claim 1 , further comprising at least one slot that extends along an extending direction and serves as the at least one opening that is fluidically connected to the plenum chamber.

7 . The flow body of claim 1 , wherein the active flow control device corresponds to at least one device of a group of devices, with the group comprising a membrane pump, fluidic actuators, a valve and air source, and a valve and suction source.

8 . A vehicle comprising a flow body, the flow body comprising:
at least one planar skin section with an outer side, an inner side and at least one opening that penetrates the skin section; and at least one active flow control device configured to move an air volume; wherein the at least one active flow control device comprises an air discharge section that is fluidically connected to the at least one opening; wherein the air discharge section and the at least one planar skin section are manufactured by a layer manufacturing process and form an integral component that is free of joints; and wherein the air discharge section at least partially supports the skin section in a load-bearing fashion.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle is realized in the form of an aircraft.

10 . A method for manufacturing the flow body of claim 1 , the method comprising processing steps for layer manufacturing of the flow body, the processing steps comprising:
applying at least one layer section with predefined dimensions, which comprises a particulate, highly viscous or liquid material, onto a base layer within a predefined region; and curing the layer section such that the material forms a solid layer within predefined dimensions; wherein at least one planar skin section with an outer side, an inner side, at least one opening that penetrates the skin section and an air discharge section of an active flow control device designed for moving an air volume, which is fluidically connected to the at least one opening, is manufactured by carrying out said processing steps; wherein the air discharge section and the at least one planar skin section form an integral component that is free of joints; and wherein the air discharge section at least partially supports the skin section in a load-bearing fashion.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the direction in which the layer manufacturing of the flow body is built up extends parallel to a principal extending direction of at least a portion of the flow body.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Reckzeh Daniel
• Stefes Bruno
• Lengers Matthias

Classifications

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• F15D1/0055

  comprising apertures in the surface, through which fluid is withdrawn from or injected into the flow · CPC title

• B64C2230/04

  by actively generating fluid flow · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title