Blade seal

摘要

A blade seal comprises a flexible member having a relatively thick edge opposite a relatively thin edge, and an actuator at least partially embedded in the flexible member for actively deflecting the thin edge with respect to the thick edge upon activation of the actuator. The blade seal may be fixed to an aerodynamic trailing edge of either a fixed aerofoil portion or a flight control surface of an aerofoil for sealing between the fixed aerofoil portion and the flight control surface. Also, a method of sealing an aerofoil using the blade seal.

主权项

1. An aircraft wing comprising a fixed aerofoil portion and a leading edge slat movable between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the fixed aerofoil portion, the leading edge slat having a blade seal fixed to an aerodynamic trailing edge of the leading edge slat, wherein the blade seal comprises
a wedge shaped flexible member having a relatively thick edge opposite a relatively thin edge, and an actuator at least partially embedded in the flexible member for actively deflecting the thin edge with respect to the thick edge upon activation of the actuator, and wherein the slat is movable between: a first configuration in which the leading edge slat is in said retracted position and the blade seal seals against the fixed aerofoil portion; a second configuration in which the leading edge slat is in said extended position and a slot is open between the leading edge slat and the fixed aerofoil portion; and a third configuration in which the leading edge slat is in an intermediate position between said extended position and said retracted position and the blade seal actuator is activated to deflect the thin edge of the blade seal towards the fixed aerofoil portion to seal an upper end of a slot between the leading edge slat and the fixed aerofoil portion.