Hot ruddervator apparatus and method for an aerospacecraft
US6419189B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64C5/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A ruddervator for an aerospacecraft. The ruddervator is formed by a plurality of airfoil sections nestably disposed in side by side fashion and supported by a pair of titanium box beam frame elements extending through central openings in each of the airfoil sections. Each airfoil section includes an oxide fiber/oxide matrix-based ceramic matrix composite (oxide-CMC) panel made up of multiple plies of oxide-CMC fabric which are fused over a rigid ceramic foam insulation member. The lower ends of the frame elements are secured to a transition component comprising a conventional torque box. The ruddervator can be manufactured with less cost and lower weight over previous ruddervator designs which require one or more large skin sections which are mechanically fastened to a substructure. The ruddervator of the present invention further minimizes fabrication costs by using a common design for the nesting airfoil sections so that a common female lay-up mold can be used for fabricating all of the airfoil sections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.