Leading edge for an aircraft

Details Leading edge for an aircraft Leading edge for an aircraft

2000-03-14

2001-04-10

Barefoot, Galen L. (Department: 3644)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Aircraft sustentation

Sustaining airfoils

C244S13400A, C244S214000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06213433

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of aircraft and more particularly to a leading edge for an aircraft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The leading edges of an aircraft, such as the leading edge of a wing. require shape tailoring for optimum performance throughout the operating range of the aircraft. Present leading edge designs expose gaps that limit the performance of the wing. These gaps result in pressure losses that limit the lift resulting from the leading edge. Other leading edge designs, such as fixed edges, significantly limit the shape tailoring of the leading edge.
Thus there exists a need for a leading edge design that allows a wide range of shape tailoring without exposing gaps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A leading edge for an aircraft that overcomes these and other problems has a hard durometer elastomer tip. An elastomer panel has a first end attached to the hard durometer elastomer tip and has a plurality of reinforcing members capable of freely sliding inside the elastomer panel. A rigid block is attached to a second end of the elastomer panel and is attached to a structure of the aircraft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a leading edge according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of the leading edge of
FIG. 1
in a deflected and blunted state;
FIG. 3
is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a leading edge according to the invention;
FIG. 4
is a top view of the leading edge of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a leading edge according to the invention;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a rod reinforced elastomer panel; and
FIG. 7
is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of an anti-icing edge for an aircraft.


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