US-20260125148-A1 - WING FOR AN AIRCRAFT

US20260125148A1US 20260125148 A1US20260125148 A1US 20260125148A1US-20260125148-A1

Abstract

A leading edge high lift assembly ( 6 ) including a slat ( 7 ), and a connection assembly ( 9 ) movably connecting the slat ( 7 ) to a main wing ( 5 ), wherein the connection assembly ( 9 ) includes a slat track ( 17 ) having a first end ( 21 ) or an intermediate portion ( 25 ) mounted to the slat ( 7 ) and the slat track ( 17 ) is mounted to the main wing ( 5 ) by a roller bearing ( 27 ) having bearing units ( 34 a - c ) mounted to the main wing ( 5 ) and having a bearing surface ( 22 ) engaging an engagement surface ( 35 ) on the slat track ( 17 ), the bearing units ( 34 a - c ) include a first end roller unit ( 34 a ) and an intermediate roller unit ( 34 b ) wherein the intermediate roller unit ( 34 b ) is positioned between the first end roller unit ( 34 a ) and the second end ( 23 ) of the slat track ( 17 ).

Inventors

Bernhard Schlipf
Dennis Krey

Assignees

AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251105
Priority Date: 20241107

Claims (15)

1 . A wing for an aircraft including a main wing and a leading edge high lift assembly which comprises: a slat, and a connection assembly movably 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 that extends along a track longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end and has an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and/or the intermediate portion of the slat track is mounted to the slat, wherein 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, wherein the roller bearing comprises a plurality of bearing units, wherein each of the bearing units is mounted to the main wing and has a bearing surface engaging an engagement surface on the slat track, wherein the plurality of bearing units comprises at least a first end roller unit and an intermediate roller unit, wherein the plurality of bearing units are positioned such that, relative to the track longitudinal axis, the intermediate roller unit is between the first end roller unit and the second end of the slat track, wherein the slat track and the roller bearing are configured such that in the retracted position and in the first extended position, the slat rests against the main wing, whereas in the second extended position, a gap is between the trailing edge of the slat and the leading edge of the main wing.
2 . The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bearing units further comprises a second end bearing unit, and wherein the plurality of bearing units are positioned such that, relative to the track longitudinal axis, the intermediate roller unit is positioned between the first end roller unit and the second end bearing unit.
3 . The wing according to claim 2 , wherein the slat track and the roller bearing are configured such that in the retracted position main loads are transferred between the slat track and the roller bearing via the first end roller unit and the second end bearing unit, and wherein in the first and second extended positions main loads are transferred between the slat track and the roller bearing via the first end roller unit and the intermediate roller unit.
4 . The wing according to claim 2 , wherein in the retracted position, the intermediate roller unit is configured to disengage with the engagement surface such that a clearance gap exists between the intermediate roller unit and the engagement surface, and the first end roller unit and the second end bearing unit are configured to engage the engagement surface; and wherein in the first and second extended positions, the second end bearing unit is configured to disengage with the engagement surface and the intermediate roller unit and the first end roller unit are configured to engage with the engagement surface.
5 . The wing according to claim 2 , wherein the engagement surface is configured to be simultaneously engaged by the first end roller unit and either the intermediate roller unit or the second end bearing unit.
6 . The wing according to claim 2 , wherein the slat track comprises a recessed portion wherein, in the retracted position, the recessed portion is configured to align along the track longitudinal axis with the intermediate roller unit such that a contact force between the intermediate roller unit and the engagement surface of the slat track is eliminated or reduced.
7 . The wing according to claim 6 , wherein the recessed portion defines a discontinuity in the engagement surface dividing the engagement surface into a first engagement surface extending in a first direction parallel to the track longitudinal axis, and a second engagement surface extending in a second direction parallel to the track longitudinal axis, wherein the first end roller unit is configured to engage the first engagement surface, and the intermediate roller unit and the second end bearing unit are configured to engage the second engagement surface.
8 . The wing according to claim 6 , wherein the recessed portion comprises a graduated transition to the engagement surface in the form of a ramp.
9 . The wing according to claim 2 , wherein the second end bearing unit comprises a roller unit.
10 . The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the slat track comprises a first and second internally oriented engagement surface and/or a first and second externally oriented engagement surface, the first internally oriented engagement surface facing the second internally oriented engagement surface, and the first externally oriented engagement surface facing away from the second externally oriented engagement surface, and wherein each of the first end roller unit, the intermediate roller unit and the second end bearing unit is configured to engage at least one of the first and second internally oriented engagement surface and the first and second externally oriented engagement surface.
11 . The wing according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement surface, when viewed along the track longitudinal axis, comprises several surface sections with different curvature radii.
12 . The wing according to claim 11 , wherein the engagement surface, when viewed along the track longitudinal axis, comprises four surface sections with four individual curvature radii, wherein a first surface section with a first curvature radius relates to the travel path of the first end roller unit between the retracted position, the first extended position, and the second extended position, wherein a second surface section with a second curvature radius relates to the recessed portion that, in the retracted position, is aligned with the intermediate roller unit such that a contact force between the intermediate roller unit and the engagement surface of the slat track is eliminated or reduced, wherein a third surface section with a third curvature radius relates to the travel path of the intermediate roller unit between the retracted position, the first extended position, and the second extended position, and wherein a fourth surface section with a fourth curvature radius relates to a section for engagement with the second end bearing unit in the retracted position.
13 . The wing according to claim 11 , wherein the engagement surface, when viewed along the track longitudinal axis, comprises six surface sections with six individual curvature radii, wherein a first surface section with a first curvature radius relates to the travel path of the first end roller unit between the retracted position and the first extended position, wherein a second surface section with a second curvature radius relates to the travel path of the first end roller unit between the first extended position and the second extended position, wherein a third surface section with a third curvature radius relates to the recessed portion that, in the retracted position, is aligned with the intermediate roller unit such that a contact force between the intermediate roller unit and the engagement surface of the slat track is eliminated or reduced, wherein a fourth surface section with a fourth curvature radius relates to the travel path of the intermediate roller unit between the retracted position and the first extended position, wherein a fifth surface section with a fifth curvature radius relates to the travel path of the intermediate roller unit between the first extended position and the second extended position, and wherein a sixth surface section with a sixth curvature radius relates to a section for engagement with the second end bearing unit in the retracted position.
14 . A leading edge high lift assembly for the wing according to claim 1 , the leading edge high lift assembly comprising: a slat, and a connection assembly configured to movably 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 a slat track that extends along a track longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end and has an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, wherein the first end and/or the intermediate portion of the slat track is configurable to be mounted to the slat, wherein the slat track is configurable to be mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing such that the slat track is movable along the track longitudinal axis, wherein the roller bearing comprises a plurality of bearing units, each of the bearing units being configurable to be mounted to the main wing and having a bearing surface configurable to engage an engagement surface provided on the slat track, and wherein the plurality of bearing units comprises at least a first end roller unit and an intermediate roller unit, wherein the plurality of bearing units are positioned such that, relative to the track longitudinal axis, the intermediate roller unit is positioned between the first end roller unit and the second end of the slat track, wherein the slat track and/or the roller bearing are configurable such that in the retracted position and in the first extended position, the slat rests against the main wing, whereas in the second extended position, a gap is formed between the trailing edge of the slat and the leading edge of the main wing.
15 . An aircraft comprising a wing according to claim 1 .

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application incorporates by reference and claims priority to German patent application DE 102024132505-4, filed Nov. 7, 2024. TECHNICAL FIELD 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. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 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 may relate to a partly extended position that is taken during take-off of the respective aircraft, while the second extended position may relate 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 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 may correspond to a front end of the connection assembly, 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 mounted to the slat by any appropriate means, e.g. by an arrangement of spherical bearings, such as in a fixed manner with respect to a chord plane. The slat track may be mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing, as will be described, such that the slat track and the slat are moveable relative to the main wing. 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. The distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the slat track may be 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. The slat track is mounted to the main wing by a roller bearing such that the track is movable along the track longitudinal axis, in particular along a predefined 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 absorbing of the loads (e.g. substantially all the loads or the principal loads or main loads, which may be the majority of the loads) between the main wing and the slat track may be done by the roller bearing. The roller bearing comprises a plurality of bearing units that are mounted to the main wing and have a bearing surface that engages an engagement surface provided on the slat track. The plurality of bearing units comprises at least a first end roller unit and an intermediate roller unit, wherein the plurality of bearing units is positioned such that, relative to the track longitudinal axis, the intermediate roller unit is positioned between the first end roller unit and the second end of the slat track, in particular when the slat is in the retracted position. The first end roller unit and/or the intermediate roller unit may be mounted to the main wing in any appropriate way, for example may be fixed or fastened to the main wing, for example may be bolted to the main wing. 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. The present invention may be embodied to provide a wing having a beneficial ratio of aerodynamic performance and noise