Method for reducing in flight wake vortices and an aircraft wingtip arrangement used in such method

摘要

This invention discloses a method to break down, destabilize, or destroy an in flight wake vortex shed from an aircraft's wing. The wingtip has a winglet mounted to an extremity of the wing, and means for actuating displacement of the winglet relative to the wing. The winglet is displaced from a stationary position, in which the in flight wake vortex is stable, to a continuous moving condition, in which the winglet is displaced to a secondary temporary stationary position, remote from the initial stationary position, and having any angle relative to a plane extending through a vertical, longitudinal, or lateral axis of the aircraft to alter the winglet's angle of attack, and persisting in the moving condition as long as required to break down, destabilize or destroy the in flight wake vortex. The invention includes a wingtip arrangement for use in the method and an aircraft including the wingtip arrangement.

主权项

1. A method to break down, destabilize, or destroy an in flight wake vortex shed from an aircraft's wing having a wingtip arrangement with at least one winglet movably mounted to an extremity of the aircraft's wing, guide means that extends parallel to a vertical, longitudinal or lateral axis of the aircraft, and actuating means connected to the winglet for actuating in use displacement of the winglet relative to the aircraft's wing, the method comprising:
actuating the actuating means to displace the winglet, linearly along the guide means, from an initial stationary position, in which the in flight wake vortex shed from the wing is stable, to a continuous moving condition, in which the winglet is displaced to at least one secondary temporary stationary position, remote from the initial stationary position, and having any angle relative to a plane extending through a vertical, longitudinal, or lateral axis of the aircraft so as to alter the winglet's angle of attack; and persisting in the continuous moving condition as long as it is required to break down, destabilize or destroy the in flight wake vortex.