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EP-4741285-A1 - WING FOR AN AIRCRAFT

EP4741285A1EP 4741285 A1EP4741285 A1EP 4741285A1EP-4741285-A1

Abstract

A wing (3) for an aircraft (1), comprising a main wing (5) and a leading edge high lift assembly (6) comprising a slat (7) and a 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 elongate slat track (17) that extends along a track longitudinal axis (19) between a first end (21) and a second end (23) and has an intermediate portion (25) between the first and second ends (21, 23), wherein the first end (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 a roller bearing (27) such that the slat track (17) is movable along the track longitudinal axis (19). The object to provide a wing having a beneficial ratio of aerodynamic performance and noise generated by extension of the slat, is achieved in that the slat track (17) is mounted to the slat (7) rotatably about a slat axis (22), and the connection assembly (9) comprises a slat angle mechanism (10) mounted to the slat (7) and configured to control the angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) when the slat (7) is moved between the retracted position (11), the first extended position (13) and the second extended position (15).

Inventors

  • KREY, Dennis
  • SCHLIPF, BERNHARD

Assignees

  • Airbus Operations GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251015

Claims (15)

  1. A wing (3) for an aircraft (1), comprising a main wing (5) and a leading edge high lift assembly (6) comprising a slat (7) and a 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 elongate slat track (17) that extends along a track longitudinal axis (19) between a first end (21) and a second end (23) and has an intermediate portion (25) between the first and second ends (21, 23), wherein the first end (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 a roller bearing (27) such that the slat track (17) is movable along the track longitudinal axis (19), characterised in that the slat track (17) is mounted to the slat (7) rotatably about a slat axis (22), the connection assembly (9) comprises a slat angle mechanism (10) mounted to the slat (7) and configured to control the angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) when the slat (7) is moved between the retracted position (11), the first extended position (13) and the second extended position (15).
  2. The 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) in such a way that in the retracted position (11) and in the first extended position (13), the slat (7) rests against the main wing (5), whereas 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. 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 is guided by the lever guide (31), wherein the lever guide (31) is mounted to the main wing (5).
  4. The 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. The wing (3) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lever guide (31) forms a guide path (35) along which the slat angle lever (29) is guided, wherein the guide path (35) is formed in such a way that the slat angle lever (29) controls the angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) in such a way that in the retracted position (11) and in the first extended position (13), the slat (7) rests against the main wing (5), whereas 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. The wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is arranged in the same chord plane as the slat track (7).
  7. The wing (3) according to claim 6, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is arranged above or below the slat track (17).
  8. The wing (3) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the slat track (17) has a form adapted to give space for the slat angle mechanism (10) to be arranged and move in close proximity to the slat track (17).
  9. The wing (3) according to claim 8, wherein the slat track (17) has a cross-sectional form including a first side portion (39) and a second side portion (41) spaced from one another in the span direction (95), and a connection portion (43) connecting the first and second side portions (39, 41), to form at least one cavity (49) partially surrounded by the first and second side portions (39, 41) as well as by the connection portion (43), wherein the cavity (49) is open in an upwards and/or downwards direction, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) extends at least partially within the cavity (49).
  10. The wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slat angle mechanism (10) is arranged in a different chord plane as the slat track (17).
  11. The wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the roller bearing (27) comprises at least two roller units (53) mounted to the main wing (5) and configured to engage a corresponding engagement surface (55) at the slat track (17).
  12. The wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the roller bearing (27) comprises a first roller unit (63) mounted to the second end (23) of the slat track (17) and configured to engage 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 a corresponding engagement surface (55) at the slat track (17).
  13. The wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the wing (3) further comprises a drive unit (71) mounted to the main wing (5) and coupled to the slat track (17) for moving the slat track (17) and hence 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 a rack (75) provided at the slat track (17), or comprises a drive linkage including at least one drive link and driven by a rotating actuator or a linear actuator mounted at the main wing (5).
  14. A leading edge high lift assembly (6) for the wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 13, the leading edge high lift assembly (6) comprising a slat (7) and a connection assembly (9) 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) that extends along a track longitudinal axis (19) between a first end (21) and a second end (23) and has an intermediate portion (25) between the first and second ends (21, 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 a roller bearing (27) such that the slat track (17) is movable along the track longitudinal axis (19), characterized in that the slat track (17) is configurable to be mounted to the slat (7) rotatably about a slat axis (22), and the connection assembly (9) comprises a slat angle mechanism (10) configurable to be mounted to the slat (7) and configurable to control the angle of the slat (7) about the slat axis (22) when the slat (7) is moved between the retracted position (11), the first extended position (13) and the second extended position (15).
  15. An aircraft (1) comprising a wing (3) according to any of claims 1 to 13, and/or comprising a leading edge high lift assembly (6) according to claim 14.

Description

The present invention relates to a wing for an aircraft. Further aspects of the invention relate to a leading edge high lift assembly for such a wing, as well as to an aircraft comprising such a wing and/or comprising such a leading edge high lift assembly. The described wing for an aircraft comprises a main wing and a leading edge high lift assembly, the 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 several extended positions, in particular a first extended position and a second extended position. The first extended position preferably relates to a partly extended position that is taken during take-off of the respective aircraft, while the second extended position preferably relates to a fully extended position that is taken during approach and landing of the respective aircraft. The connection assembly comprises an elongate slat track that extends along a track longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end and that has an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. 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/are mounted to the slat. The first end preferably corresponds to a front end of the slat track, e.g. the end positioned towards the intended direction of forward motion of the wing during flight of an aircraft. The first end of the slat track may be preferably mounted to the slat by any appropriate means, e.g. by one or more spherical bearings. The slat track is mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing such that the slat track is movable along the track longitudinal axis, in particular along a predefined travel path, such as between a stowed position when the slat is in the retracted position, a first deployed position when the slat is in the first extended position, and a second deployed position when the slat is in the second extended position. The slat track may take the form of, for example, a C-shape, such that its surface lies opposite the circumferential surface of the roller bearing, wherein the distance between an upper surface and a lower surface of the slat track is larger than a diameter of a roller bearing, such that the roller bearing may engage only one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the slat track at any one time. I.e. the distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the slat track is selected such that a clearance is provided between the roller bearing and either the upper surface or the lower surface of the slat track, such that the roller bearing cannot engage with the upper and lower surfaces of the slat track at the same time, thereby becoming wedged therein. Similar wings are known in the art. Some known wings employ sealed slats the trailing edge of which is in contact with the leading edge of the main wing at all positions 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 a gap reduced aerodynamic drag and noise. Other wings have slats the trailing edge of which is spaced from the leading edge of the main wing by a gap at all extended positions of the slat. Such a gap guides fresh air flow from underneath the wing to the upper side of the wing, thereby inhibiting flow separation and thus increasing lift. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a wing having a beneficial ratio of aerodynamic performance and noise generated by extension of the slat. The object is achieved in that the slat track is mounted to the slat rotatably about a slat axis. The slat axis preferably extends in a span direction and/or in parallel to a trailing edge of the slat and/or in parallel to a 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 the angle of the slat about the slat axis when the slat is moved 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 movement path of the slat between the retracted position, the first extended position and the second extended position. I.e., it can be controlled in which position along the movement path 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 in which position a gap is formed between the trailing edge of the slat and the leading edg