Flap edge noise reduction fins

摘要

A flap of the type that is movably connected to an aircraft wing to provide control of an aircraft in flight includes opposite ends, wherein at least a first opposite end includes a plurality of substantially rigid, laterally extending protrusions that are spaced apart to form a plurality of fluidly interconnected passageways. The passageways have openings adjacent to upper and lower sides of the flap, and the passageways include a plurality of bends such that high pressure fluid flows from a high pressure region to a low pressure region to provide a boundary condition that inhibits noise resulting from airflow around the end of the flap.

主权项

1. A flap of the type that is movably connected to an aircraft wing to provide control of an aircraft in flight, the flap comprising:
an elongated flap structure defining first and second opposite ends and leading and trailing edges extending lengthwise between the opposite ends, the elongated flap structure defining upper and lower side surfaces extending lengthwise between opposite ends and fore-aft between the leading and trailing edges, and wherein, in use, air flow adjacent to the opposite ends forms high pressure and lower pressure regions; wherein at least a portion of the first opposite end includes a plurality of substantially rigid, laterally extending protrusions that are contained within the volume of the flap structure and are spaced apart to form a plurality of fluidly interconnected passageways between the protrusions, the passageways having openings adjacent to the upper and lower side surfaces of the elongated flap structure, wherein the protrusions maintain the profile of the flap and wherein the protrusion distribution is not segmented by significant voids in the fore-aft direction between the leading and trailing edges; and further wherein the passageways include a plurality of bends whereby, in use, high pressure fluid enters the openings at a high pressure region and flows through the passageways to a low pressure region to thereby provide a boundary condition that inhibits noise resulting from airflow around the first opposite end of the elongated flap structure.