Patent · US Expired

Supersonic aircraft with channel relief control

US6921045B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
26References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 2003
Grant dateJul 26, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T50/30
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A supersonic aircraft comprises a fuselage extending forward and aft along a longitudinal axis, the fuselage having a lower surface and an upper surface, a highly swept low aspect ratio wing coupled to the fuselage and having a forward leading edge and an aft trailing edge, an effector flap coupled to the wing trailing edge, and a tail empennage. The tail empennage is coupled to the fuselage aft of the wing on the fuselage upper surface in a position high relative to the wing. The tail empennage forms a channel region subject to complex shock patterns at transonic conditions. The aircraft further comprises an effector coupled to the tail empennage and a controller coupled to the effector flaps and the effectors. The controller further comprises a control process that reduces drag through channel relief by deflecting both the effector flap down and the effector up.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.