The Boeing Company

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Calvin Kao

Jan A Kordel

Emily Georgia Rayner

Adam Charles Jones

In one embodiment, an aircraft includes a wing operable to fold along a wing fold gap. The wing comprises an inboard edge flap and an outboard edge flap, wherein the wing fold gap is between the inboard edge flap and the outboard edge flap. The aircraft further includes an input shaft operably coupled to the inboard edge flap, the input shaft mechanically coupled to a first magnetic torque coupler assembly at a first end of the input shaft. The wing further includes an output shaft operably coupled to the outboard edge flap, the output shaft mechanically coupled to a second magnetic torque coupler assembly at a first end of the output shaft. The first magnetic torque coupler assembly may magnetically couple to the second magnetic torque coupler assembly across the fold gap.

Torque transfer across an air gap

This disclosure is directed to a methodology for designing spoilers or droop panels and aerodynamic systems including the designed spoilers or the designed droop panels. The spoilers and the droop panels can be deployed on a wing with a flap system, which provides for trailing edge variable camber (TEVC) system. During flight, the fixed portions of the wing, the flaps, the spoilers and droop panels can all deform. The spoilers or the droop panels can each be pre-deformed to a first shape on the ground such that in flight the spoilers or the droop panels deform to a second shape under aerodynamic loads. In the second shape, the spoilers or the droop panels are configured to seal better against the flaps. The spoilers or the droop panels can be configured to seal to the flaps during all of the positions the flaps take as part of the TEVC system.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clarita, CA, United States of America

Calvin Kao