US 11,685,516 B2
Passive gust-load-alleviation device
Thomas G. Ivanco, Yorktown, VA (US); Patrick S. Heaney, Gloucester, VA (US); and Charles Chiou, Virgina Beach, VA (US)
Assigned to UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/395,747.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/061,961, filed on Aug. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0041268 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 13/18 (2006.01); B64C 5/10 (2006.01); B64C 3/50 (2006.01); B64C 13/16 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/18 (2013.01) [B64C 3/50 (2013.01); B64C 5/10 (2013.01); B64C 13/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passive gust load alleviation device for an aerodynamic panel, comprising:
a revolute joint having an axis of rotation;
a free-floating aerodynamic surface operatively connected along a trailing edge of the aerodynamic panel via the revolute joint, wherein the free-floating aerodynamic surface is configured to move about the axis of rotation without controllable actuation force being applied to the free-floating aerodynamic surface; and
a counterweight operatively connected to the free-floating aerodynamic surface, wherein the counterweight and the free-floating aerodynamic surface together have a center of gravity located forward of the axis of rotation relative to a direction of ambient airflow across the aerodynamic panel, and wherein the counterweight is configured to passively deflect the free-floating aerodynamic surface about the axis of rotation in response to an incident wind gust to thereby alleviate a gust load on the aerodynamic panel resulting from the incident wind gust.