FLUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE

摘要

A fluid flow control device deals with undesirable aerodynamic characteristics associated with cylinder-plus-hemisphere shaped airborne radar housings when positioned in a generally lateral projecting location from an aircraft. The device consists of a rectangular plate mounted horizontally to the downstream side of the housing and extending radially from the fuselage and an end plate mounted perpendicular to the first plate. This end plate has an upstream edge that conforms to the cylindrical portion of the housing adjacent the outer end thereof and extends downstream a distance equal to about one and one-fourth times the diameter of the cylindrical housing. The width of this end plate is at least equal to the diameter of the cylindrical housing. Vortices that shed in the streamwise direction from the housing are entrained by the end plate/horizontal plate channel while the air flow over the hemispherical end of the housing is prevented from mixing with these shedded vortices resulting in substantially eliminating aircraft drag and buffeting. The plates contain perforations which serve to neutralize any destabilizing influences that may result due to the mounting of the device on the aircraft.