Wing tip device

摘要

A wing tip device for fixing to the outboard end of a wing, the wing defining a wing plane, the wing tip device comprising: an upper wing-like element projecting upwardly with respect to the wing plane and having a trailing edge; and a lower wing-like element fixed with respect to the upper wing-like element and having a root chord and a trailing edge, the lower wing-like element root chord intersecting with the upper wing-like element, and the lower wing-like element projecting downwardly from the intersection, wherein the upper wing-like element is larger than the lower wing-like element and the trailing edge of the lower wing-like element is adjacent the trailing edge of the upper wing-like element at the intersection, and wherein an included angle between the upper and lower wing-like elements at the intersection is less than, or equal to, 160 degrees. Also, a wing with the wing tip device; an aircraft with the wing; a method of fitting, or retro-fitting, the wing tip device to a wing; a method of modifying an existing wing tip device; and a method of operating a wing with the wing tip device.

主权项

1. A wing tip device for fixing to the outboard end of a wing, the wing defining a wing plane, the wing tip device comprising:
an upper wing-like element projecting upwardly with respect to the wing plane and having a trailing edge; and a lower wing-like element fixed with respect to the upper wing-like element and having a root chord and a trailing edge, the lower wing-like element root chord intersecting with the upper wing-like element, and the lower wing-like element projecting downwardly from the intersection, wherein the upper wing-like element includes a substantially planar portion and an arcuate transition portion adapted to smoothly blend the outboard end of the wing into the substantially planar portion, the transition portion having a lower surface, the lower surface curving upwards such that the transition portion extends above the wing plane, wherein the upper wing-like element is larger than the lower wing-like element and the trailing edge of the lower wing-like element is adjacent the trailing edge of the upper wing-like element at the intersection, wherein an included angle between the upper and lower wing-like elements at the intersection is less than, or equal to, 160 degrees, wherein the intersection between the lower wing-like element and the upper wing-like element is on the lower surface of the transition portion, outboard of the outboard end of the wing, such that the intersection is located above the wing plane, and wherein the wing tip device is configured to offset at least some of the decrease in wing span resulting from aeroelastic deformation during flight, such that aeroelastic deformation during flight causes rotation of the wing tip device about a wing root such that a tip of the lower wing-like element extends further outboard in the spanwise direction than a tip of the upper wing-like element.