The present application is a national Phase of International Application Number PCT/CN2010/000729, filed May 21, 2010.
The present invention relates to a droop panel linkage for aircraft.
A droop panel linkage is known in the prior art, via which the motion of a flap of aircraft is transferred to the droop panel. As shown in
The present invention is based on the object of providing a lightweight, simple-structure droop panel linkage.
For achieving the above mentioned object, the droop panel linkage for aircraft according to an embodiment comprises a lever arm, a main lever, a main tube and at least one drive strut, said lever arm is pivotally attached at a first end to a flap and is pivotally connected at a second end to a first end of the main lever, wherein a second end of said main lever is provided with a first engagement means, in a preferred embodiment being a spline hole, for engaging with a second engagement means, such as spline teeth, incorporated into or associated with the main tube, said main tube is pivotally connected at its one end to a proximal end of the drive strut, wherein a distal end of the drive strut is pivotally attached to the droop panel. In a preferred embodiment, the main lever is configured as a single-lever type of main lever. The single-lever type of main lever is a main lever in the form of unitary structure having a single load path. As a result of this configuration, the total weight of the droop panel linkage is reduced and the weight penalty of the overall construction is mitigated.
The main lever and main tube engage mechanically by means of a suitable engagement means which will impart the displacement of the main lever into rotational movement of the main tube. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement means is a spline construction. However, other mechanisms are envisaged and are to be considered within the scope of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the main tube consists of an outboard tube and an inboard tube, and the outboard tube has substantially the same configuration as the inboard tube. In a preferred embodiment, the outboard tube and the inboard tube respectively have at a first end the second engagement means, preferably outer spline teeth, for engaging with the first engagement means of the main lever, preferably inner spline teeth, wherein said outboard tube and said inboard tube respectively have at a second end a first attachment means for articulating with the drive strut, which is integrated into the outboard tube and the inboard tube respectively.
In a further embodiment, said first attachment means may be in the form of a lug which protrudes from the main tube in the radial direction thereof, and said lug is provided with a joint bore for receiving a joint pin.
Alternatively, the main tube may be configured as a single piece, wherein the second engagement means, preferably outer spline teeth, is arranged substantially at the centre of the main tube so as to engage with the first engagement means of the main lever, preferably inner spline teeth, wherein the main tube has at a first end a first attachment means for articulating with the drive strut, which is integrated with the main tube, wherein a second attachment means for articulating with the drive strut is detachably mounted on a second end of the main tube. In a further embodiment, the first attachment means may be in the form of a lug which protrudes from the main tube in the radial direction thereof, and the second attachment means may be in the form of a cam, and the cam and the lug have respectively a joint bore for receiving a joint pin.
It is of particular advantage that the second attachment means has an axial extension portion which can be inserted into an inner hollow cavity of the main tube, whereby an engagement means, for example outer spline teeth, of said axial extension portion engages with the corresponding engagement means, for example inner spline teeth, of the inner hollow cavity of the main tube. At the second end of the main tube, a stepped hollow part can be inserted into the inner hollow cavity of the main tube, and that the hollow part protrudes at its one end having smaller diameter from the central bore of the second attachment means, and the second attachment means can be fixed axially by means of a lock nut being screwed on the protruding portion of the hollow part.
Embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:
The main lever 4 may be configured as a single-lever type of main lever, which may be in the form of a unitary, monolithic or single-structure having a single load path, thereby leading to advantageous weight characteristics in the droop panel mechanism as a whole.
In an embodiment, the outboard tube 9 has substantially the same configuration as the inboard tube 8 and the difference therebetween lies in that the inboard tube 8 is a little longer than the outboard tube 9. The inboard tube 8 and the outboard tube 9 are respectively engaged with the spline hole of the main lever 4.
In a third embodiment of a droop panel linkage 2 illustrated in
The main tube 7 as shown in
Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modification and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or elements having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CN2010/000729 | 5/21/2010 | WO | 00 | 1/24/2013 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2011/143794 | 11/24/2011 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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Search Report corresponding to PCT/CN2010/000729, dated Mar. 3, 2011. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130112814 A1 | May 2013 | US |