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CN-121990155-A - Wing for an aircraft, leading edge high lift assembly for a wing, and aircraft

CN121990155ACN 121990155 ACN121990155 ACN 121990155ACN-121990155-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a wing for an aircraft, a leading edge high lift assembly for a wing and an aircraft. The wing comprises a main wing and a leading edge high lift assembly, the leading edge high lift assembly comprising a slat and a connection assembly connecting the slat to the main wing such that the slat is movable between a retracted position, a first extended position and a second extended position, wherein the connection assembly comprises an elongate slat track, wherein a first end and/or a middle portion of the slat track is mounted to the slat, wherein the slat track is mounted to the main wing such that the slat track is movable along a track longitudinal axis. The aim of providing a wing with a beneficial ratio of aerodynamic performance and noise resulting from extension of the slat is achieved in that the slat track is mounted to a slat that is rotatable about a slat axis, and the connection assembly comprises a slat angle mechanism mounted to the slat and configured to control the angle of the slat about the slat axis as the slat moves.

Inventors

  • Bernhard Schliepf
  • Dennis Cray

Assignees

  • 空中客车德国运营有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20251105
Priority Date
20241107

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A wing (3) for an aircraft (1), comprising: A main wing (5), and A leading edge high lift assembly (6), the leading edge high lift assembly (6) comprising: slat (7), and -A connection assembly (9), the connection assembly (9) movably connecting the slat (7) to the main wing (5) such that the slat (7) is movable between a retracted position (11), a first extended position (13) and a second extended position (15), Wherein the connection assembly (9) comprises an elongated slat track (17), the slat track (17) extending along a track longitudinal axis (19) between a first end (21) and a second end (23) and having an intermediate portion (25) between the first end (21) and the second end (23), Wherein the first end portion (21) and/or the intermediate portion (25) of the slat track (17) is mounted to the slat (7), Wherein the slat track (17) is mounted to the main wing (5) by means of roller bearings (27) such that the slat track (17) is movable along the track longitudinal axis (19), It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The slat track (17) is mounted to the slat (7) rotatable about a slat axis (22), The connection assembly (9) comprises a slat angle mechanism (10), the slat angle mechanism (10) being mounted to the slat (7) and configured to control an angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) as the slat (7) moves between the retracted position (11), the first extended position (13) and the second extended position (15).
  2. 2. A wing (3) according to claim 1, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is configured to control the angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) such that in the retracted position (11) and in the first extended position (13), the slat (7) rests against the main wing (5), and in the second extended position (15) a gap (26) is formed between the trailing edge of the slat (7) and the leading edge of the main wing (5).
  3. 3. The wing (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) comprises a slat angle lever (29) and a lever guide (31), Wherein the slat angle lever (29) is mounted to the slat (7) and guided by the lever guide (31), Wherein the lever guide (31) is mounted to the main wing (5).
  4. 4. A wing (3) according to claim 3, wherein the lever guide (31) is formed as a lever rail (32) and the slat angle lever (29) comprises a slat angle roller (33) engaging the lever rail (32).
  5. 5. A wing (3) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lever guide (31) forms a guide path (35), the slat angle lever (29) being guided along the guide path (35), wherein the guide path (35) is formed such that the slat angle lever (29) controls the angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) such that in the retracted position (11) and in the first extended position (13), the slat (7) rests against the main wing (5), and in the second extended position (15) a gap (26) is formed between the trailing edge of the slat (7) and the leading edge of the main wing (5).
  6. 6. A wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is arranged in the same chord plane as the slat track (7).
  7. 7. A wing (3) according to claim 6, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is arranged above or below the slat track (17).
  8. 8. A wing (3) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the slat track (17) is of a form adapted to provide space for the slat angle mechanism (10) to be arranged and moved in close proximity to the slat track (17).
  9. 9. Wing (3) according to claim 8, wherein the slat track (17) has a cross-sectional form comprising a first side portion (39) and a second side portion (41) spaced apart from each other in a spanwise direction (95) and a connecting portion (43), the connecting portion (43) connecting the first side portion (39) and the second side portion (41) to form at least one cavity (49) partly surrounded by the first side portion (39) and the second side portion (41) and the connecting portion (43), Wherein the cavity (49) is open in an upward and/or downward direction, Wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) extends at least partially within the cavity (49).
  10. 10. A wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is arranged in a different chord plane than the slat track (17).
  11. 11. The wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the roller support (27) comprises at least two roller units (53) mounted to the main wing (5) and configured to engage with corresponding engagement surfaces (55) at the slat track (17).
  12. 12. The wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the roller support (27) comprises a first roller unit (63) mounted to the second end (23) of the slat track (17) and configured to engage with a guide rail (69) mounted to the main wing (5), and a second roller unit (65) mounted to the main wing (5) and configured to engage with a corresponding engagement surface (55) at the slat track (17).
  13. 13. The wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the wing (3) further comprises a drive unit (71), the drive unit (71) being mounted to the main wing (5) and coupled to the slat track (17) for moving the slat track (17) and thus the slat (7) between the retracted position (11), the first extended position (13) and the second extended position (15), Wherein the drive unit (71) comprises a drive pinion (73) mounted to the main wing (5) and engaging with a rack (75) provided at the slat track (17), or comprises a drive linkage comprising at least one drive link and driven by a rotary or linear actuator mounted at the main wing (5).
  14. 14. A leading edge high lift assembly (6) for a wing (3), the wing (3) being a wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the leading edge high lift assembly (6) comprising: slat (7), and -A connection assembly (9), the connection assembly (9) being configured for movably connecting the slat (7) to the main wing (5) such that the slat (7) is movable between a retracted position (11), a first extended position (13) and a second extended position (15), Wherein the connection assembly (9) comprises a slat track (17), the slat track (17) extending along a track longitudinal axis (19) between a first end (21) and a second end (23) and having an intermediate portion (25) between the first end (21) and the second end (23), Wherein the first end (21) and/or the intermediate portion of the slat track (17) is configurable to be mounted to the slat (7), Wherein the slat track (17) is configurable to be mounted to the main wing (5) by roller bearings (27) such that the slat track (17) is movable along the track longitudinal axis (19), It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The slat track (17) is configurable to be mounted to the slat (7) rotatable about a slat axis (22), and The connection assembly (9) comprises a slat angle mechanism (10), the slat angle mechanism (10) being configurable to be mounted to the slat (7) and being configurable to control an angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) as the slat (7) moves between the retracted position (11), the first extended position (13) and the second extended position (15).
  15. 15. An aircraft (1), the aircraft (1) comprising a wing (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and/or comprising a leading edge high lift assembly (6) according to claim 14.

Description

Wing for an aircraft, leading edge high lift assembly for a wing, and aircraft Technical Field The present invention relates to a wing for an aircraft. Other aspects of the invention relate to leading edge high lift assemblies for such wings, and aircraft including such wings and/or including such leading edge high lift assemblies. Background The described wing for an aircraft comprises a main wing and a leading edge high lift assembly comprising a slat and a connection assembly movably connecting the slat to the main wing such that the slat is movable relative to the main wing between a retracted position and a number of extended positions, in particular a first extended position and a second extended position. The first extended position preferably relates to a partially extended position assumed during takeoff of the respective aircraft, while the second extended position preferably relates to a fully extended position assumed during approach and landing of the respective aircraft. The connection assembly includes an elongated slat track extending along a track longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end and having an intermediate portion therebetween. The slat track may have a curved or straight form along the track longitudinal axis. At least one or both of the first end and the intermediate portion of the slat track is mounted to the slat. The first end preferably corresponds to a forward end of the slat track, for example an end that is positioned towards the intended direction of forward movement of the wing during flight of the aircraft. The first end of the slat track may preferably be mounted to the slat by any suitable means, for example by one or more spherical supports. The slat track is mounted to the main wing by roller supports such that the slat track is movable along a track longitudinal axis, in particular along a predetermined path of travel, such as between a stowed position when the slat is in a retracted position, a first deployed position when the slat is in a first extended position, and a second deployed position when the slat is in a second extended position. The slat track may take the form of, for example, a C-shape such that its surface opposes a circumferential surface of the roller support, wherein the distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the slat track is greater than the diameter of the roller support such that the roller support may engage only one of the upper or lower surfaces of the slat track at any time. That is, the distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the slat track is selected such that a gap is provided between the roller support and either the upper or lower surface of the slat track such that the roller support cannot simultaneously engage the upper and lower surfaces of the slat track and thus cannot wedge therein. Similar airfoils are known in the art. Some known wings employ a sealed slat with the trailing edge in contact with the leading edge of the main wing at all locations of the slat so that there is never a gap between the trailing edge of the slat and the leading edge of the main wing. Avoiding gaps reduces aerodynamic drag and noise. Other wings have a slat with a trailing edge that is spaced apart from the leading edge of the main wing by a gap at all extended positions of the slat. Such a gap directs fresh air from below the wing to the upper side of the wing, thereby inhibiting flow separation and thus increasing lift. Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wing having a beneficial ratio of aerodynamic properties and noise generated by the extension of the slat. This object is achieved in that the slat track is mounted to a slat which is rotatable about a slat axis. The slat axis preferably extends spanwise and/or parallel to the trailing edge of the slat and/or parallel to the leading edge of the main wing and/or perpendicular to the track longitudinal axis. Further, the connection assembly comprises a slat angle mechanism mounted to the slat, preferably fixedly mounted to the slat and preferably mounted to the main wing, wherein the slat angle mechanism is configured to control an angle of the slat about the slat axis as the slat moves between the retracted position, the first extended position and the second extended position. By controlling the angle of the slat about the slat axis, the position of the trailing edge of the slat relative to the leading edge of the main wing can be controlled throughout the path of movement of the slat between the retracted position, the first extended position and the second extended position. That is, it is possible to control at which position along the path of movement of the slat the trailing edge of the slat rests against the leading edge of the main wing so that fluid is restricted from passing between the slat and the main wing, and at which position a gap is formed between the trailing edge of the slat and the leading ed