Method and apparatus for robust lift generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573680-B2
Application number	US-201514637288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Nov 29, 2012
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for robust lift generation through flow separation suppression are presented. A fluid flow is ejected over a lifting surface from a fluid ejection orifice, and a flow direction of the fluid flow over the lifting surface is directed using a plurality of vanes configured in the fluid ejection orifice. The flow direction is rotated in a span-wise direction over the lifting surface by swiveling the vanes.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for enhanced lift generation via flow separation suppression, the method comprising:
ejecting a fluid flow over a lifting surface from a fluid ejection orifice;
directing a flow direction of the fluid flow over the lifting surface using a plurality of vanes configured in the fluid ejection orifice; and
rotating the flow direction in a span-wise direction over the lifting surface by swiveling the vanes.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling a periodic oscillation frequency of the vanes and a rate of the fluid flow based on operational conditions.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the vanes at a vane angle to suppress a flow separation over the lifting surface based on operational conditions.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising covering the fluid ejection orifice and the vanes during non-operation.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically moving a rack hinged to the vanes in a linear back and forth fashion in the span-wise direction to generate a linear rack motion to swivel the vanes.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising cyclically rotating the vanes about their respective axis at a frequency and within predefined azimuth bounds in response to the linear rack motion.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising controlling a motion of the rack to hold the vanes at a vane angle based on operational conditions to achieve best volume coverage and maximum upper surface blowing effect over a range of the operational conditions.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising activating the vanes during takeoff, approach, or landing.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
directing an exhaust stream over the lifting surface over toward an aft end of the lifting surface by a cowling extending outwardly from the lifting surface; and
directing the fluid flow through the fluid ejection orifice and substantially parallel to and along the lifting surface to enhance attachment of the exhaust stream to the lifting surface.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating the exhaust stream from an engine.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the fluid flow from a portion of the exhaust stream.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the fluid flow through a duct extending from a compressed fluid source to the fluid ejection orifice.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising operating an extendable flap having a flap surface as the lifting surface, and transmitting the fluid flow through the duct through the extendable flap to the flap surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising passing a portion of the fluid flow through the duct while the flap is extended, and preventing the portion of the fluid flow from passing through the duct when the flap is not extended.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising operating an aircraft as an upper surface blowing aircraft, wherein the lifting surface comprises an upper surface of a wing of the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising emanating the fluid flow from a compressed fluid source comprising at least one of the group consisting of: a compressor portion of an engine, a bleed air source of the engine, a fan portion of the engine, and a dedicated electrical compressor.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching a portion of the fluid flow to pass through a duct in a first operating state.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising preventing the portion of the fluid flow from passing through the duct in a second operating state.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the vanes on a vertical axis anchored to the lifting surface.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the fluid ejection orifice configured as a fluid ejection slot.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Shmilovich Arvin
• Yadlin Yoram

Classifications

• B64C9/38 Primary

  Jet flaps · CPC title

• B64C21/04 Primary

  for blowing · CPC title

• B64C21/08

  adjustable · CPC title

• Y02T50/10

  Drag reduction · CPC title