US 12,172,747 B2
Flow control device
Enzo Cosentino, Bristol (GB); Catherine Llewellyn-Jones, Bristol (GB); Gaetano Arena, Bristol (GB); Rainer Groh, Bristol (GB); and Alberto Pirrera, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB); and THE UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL, Bristol (GB)
Appl. No. 18/250,195
Filed by AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB); and THE UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL, Bristol (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/GB2021/052525
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 21, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/084645, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2016757 (GB), filed on Oct. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391443 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 23/00 (2006.01); B64C 3/14 (2006.01); B64C 3/26 (2006.01); B64C 3/44 (2006.01); B64C 3/58 (2006.01); B64C 23/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 23/005 (2013.01) [B64C 3/14 (2013.01); B64C 3/26 (2013.01); B64C 3/44 (2013.01); B64C 3/58 (2013.01); B64C 23/076 (2017.05); B64C 2003/445 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow control device with a device aerodynamic surface arranged on a structure with a structure aerodynamic surface such that strain in the structure is at least partially transferred to the flow control device, the flow control device having a first state corresponding to a first shape of the device aerodynamic surface, and a second state corresponding to a second shape of the device aerodynamic surface,
wherein the first state is a stable state of the flow control device and the second state is either a steady state or a second stable state of the flow control device,
wherein the flow control device is arranged to rapidly transition from the first state to the second state when strain in the structure exceeds an activation threshold of the flow control device, and
wherein in the second shape the device aerodynamic surface is depressed below the surrounding structure aerodynamic surface to define a recessed channel transverse to an oncoming airflow configured so that the oncoming airflow can flow into the recessed channel.