US 12,384,518 B2
Flight control surface with leading edge device within wing
Oliver Family, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
Filed by AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/472,440.
Claims priority of application No. 2213903 (GB), filed on Sep. 23, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0101248 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 9/24 (2006.01); B64C 9/32 (2006.01); B64C 13/38 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 9/24 (2013.01) [B64C 13/38 (2013.01); B64C 9/323 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft wing, comprising: a fixed wing, having:
a leading edge, a trailing edge,
an upper surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and a lower surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge to define a wing profile, and
a moveable leading edge device mounted towards the leading edge, the leading edge device having a proximal end and a distal end,
wherein the leading edge device is rotatably mounted at the proximal end thereof to the fixed wing, so as to be movable by rotation between:
a first configuration in which the proximal end is nearer the leading edge than the distal end, and in which a surface of the device is generally flush with the lower surface near the leading edge;
a second configuration in which the surface of the device is retracted inside the wing profile creating a void in the lower surface near the leading edge into which oncoming airflow can enter when the fixed wing is moved through the airflow impairing lift produced by the fixed wing; and,
a third configuration in which the surface of the device is extended away from the wing profile and into the oncoming airflow when the fixed wing is moved through the airflow increasing lift produced by the fixed wing,
the aircraft wing further comprising an actuator disposed within the wing profile and coupled to the leading edge device via first and second linkages, wherein the first and the second linkages are configured to move the leading edge device between the first, second, and third configurations.