Patent · US Active

Low-drag swept wings

US8113462B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 7, 2008
Grant dateFeb 14, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T50/10
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an aircraft, and a method for operating an aircraft, the aircraft having a longitudinally unstable configuration and swept wings, the swept wings being based on aerofoils having a leading edge and configured for preventing attachment line transition in conditions of laminar flow over the swept wing for at least a predetermined first range of lift coefficients at a second range of Reynolds numbers. The invention also relates to an aerofoil, and to a method for providing an aerofoil, the airfoil being configured for a thick-sectioned subsonic/transonic swept wing, having a curved leading edge, a trailing edge, a thickness dimension and a chord dimension, wherein the leading edge comprises a leading edge curvature associated with a leading edge radius that is configured for preventing attachment line transition in conditions of laminar flow over the swept wing.

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