Autonomous slat-cove-filler device for reduction of aeroacoustic noise associated with aircraft systems

US9242720B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Travis L. Turner · Yorktown, US
• Reggie T. Kidd · Hampton, US
• David P. Lockard · Hampton, US
• Mehdi R. Khorrami · Norfolk, US
• Craig L. Streett · Yorktown, US
• Douglas Leo Weber · Hayes, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 20, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 26, 2016
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/30
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A slat cove filler is utilized to reduce airframe noise resulting from deployment of a leading edge slat of an aircraft wing. The slat cove filler is preferably made of a super elastic shape memory alloy, and the slat cove filler shifts between stowed and deployed shapes as the slat is deployed. The slat cove filler may be configured such that a separate powered actuator is not required to change the shape of the slat cove filler from its deployed shape to its stowed shape and vice-versa. The outer contour of the slat cove filler preferably follows a profile designed to maintain accelerating flow in the gap between the slat cove filler and wing leading edge to provide for noise reduction.