AIRCRAFT COMPRISING A FOLDABLE AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE AND AN ARTICULATION MECHANISM FOR A FOLDABLE AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE

摘要

An aircraft, for example a passenger aircraft, comprises a foldable wing having an inner region and an outer region. The outer region is moveable relative to the inner region between a flight configuration, an intermediate configuration, and a ground configuration. In the flight configuration the inner and outer regions are locked together via a multiplicity of connectors for transferring loads. In the intermediate configuration the outer region is displaced, for example forwardly, such that the connection is disengaged to unlock the outer region from the inner region. In the intermediate configuration the outer region is also connected to the inner region via a hinge. In the ground configuration, the outer region is rotated about the hinge, such that the span of the wing is reduced.

主权项

1. An aircraft comprising a foldable aerodynamic structure, the aerodynamic structure comprising an inner region and an outer region, the outer region being moveable relative to the inner region between:
a) a flight configuration for use during flight, b) an intermediate configuration, and c) a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, wherein in the flight configuration the inner and outer regions are locked together via a multiplicity of connectors, the connectors being arranged to transfer loads from the outer region to the inner region; in the intermediate configuration the outer region is displaced in a first direction, relative to the inner region, the displacement being such that the connection by the multiplicity of connectors is disengaged and being such that the outer region is unlocked from the inner region, and in the intermediate configuration the outer region is also connected to the inner region via a hinge about which the outer region may rotate, and in the ground configuration, the outer region is rotated about the hinge, such that the span of the aerodynamic structure is reduced.