The Boeing Company

Christopher Andrew Konings

Adam P Malachowski

Paul E Mikulencak

Stephen T Brown

Victor Ken Stuhr

Christopher A Vegter

Chester P Nelson

R Blake Emery

Bruce R Detert

Michael L Drake

Richard K Wong

Mark Edward Eakins

Mark E Eatkins

Gregory M Santini

Paul M Vijgen

Brian E Geppert

Seiya Sakurai

Stephen Roger Amorosi

Matthew A Moser

Michael R Finn

Anthony J Sclafani

Adam M Clark

Paul Brian Philipp

C Byram Bays-Muchmore

Daniel Joseph Goering

Connie Phung

Miles Anthony Robinson

Kevin Mark Johnsen

Thomas K Dodt

Patterson Johnson

Sean C Omeara

Duk Park

Jeffrey P Slotnick

Paul Vijgen

Thomas Dodt

Aircraft nacelles having adjustable chines are described. An example apparatus includes a multi-segment chine rotatably coupled to a nacelle. The multi-segment chine includes at least two segments. The at least two segments include a first segment and a second segment. The first segment and the second segment are independently rotatable relative to the nacelle about an axis of rotation.

Aircraft nacelles having adjustable chines

Aircraft nacelles having adjustable chines are described. An example apparatus includes a first chine rotatably coupled to a nacelle at a first location about an outer circumference of the nacelle. The first chine is rotatable relative to the nacelle about an axis of rotation. The example apparatus further includes a second chine fixedly coupled to the nacelle at a second location about the outer circumference of the nacelle. The second location is circumferentially offset from the first location.

Aircraft nacelles having adjustable chines are described. An example apparatus includes a chine coupled to a nacelle. The chine is oriented along a fore-aft direction. The chine is translatable relative to the nacelle along the fore-aft direction.

Aircraft nacelles having adjustable chines are described. An example apparatus includes a multi-segment chine coupled to a nacelle. The multi-segment chine includes a first segment oriented along a fore-aft direction. The first segment is translatable relative to the nacelle along the fore-aft direction. The multi-segment chine further includes a second segment oriented along the fore-aft direction. The second segment is substantially coplanar with the first segment.

Mini-spoilers for enhancing the effectiveness of lateral-control surfaces of aircraft wings are described. An example aircraft includes a wing, a lateral-control surface, and a mini-spoiler. The lateral-control surface is movably coupled to the wing. The lateral-control surface is movable between a neutral position, a first upward deflected position, and a second upward deflected position extending beyond the first upward deflected position. The mini-spoiler is located on or forward of the lateral-control surface. The mini-spoiler is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position. The mini-spoiler is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the deployed position based on the lateral-control surface being moved from the neutral position to or toward the first upward deflected position.

Mini-spoilers for enhancing the effectiveness of lateral-control surfaces of aircraft wings

Example actuator assemblies to deploy aircraft leading edge flaps and seals for aircraft leading edge flaps are described herein. An example apparatus includes an aircraft flap that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The flap includes a top panel. A notch is formed in the top panel and extends into a side of the top panel near a trailing edge of the flap. The example apparatus also includes a seal coupled to the flap. The seal is movable to cover the notch when the flap is in the deployed position.

Actuator assemblies to deploy aircraft leading edge flaps and seals for aircraft leading edge flaps

Aerodynamic structures having lower surface spoilers are described herein. One disclosed example apparatus includes a first spoiler of an aerodynamic structure of an aircraft, where the first spoiler is to deflect away from a first side of the aerodynamic structure and a second spoiler on a second side of the aerodynamic structure opposite of the first side, where the second spoiler is to deflect away from the second side to reduce a load on at least one of the first spoiler or a flap of the aerodynamic structure.

Aerodynamic structures having lower surface spoilers

A slat control system for an aircraft may include a flight control computer configured to generate a gap command in response to an occurrence of a gap-command condition. The slat control system may further include an edge control system including an edge control device having a plurality of control device positions including at least one designated control device position. The slat control system may additionally include a device actuation system configured to move a leading edge device of an aircraft. The edge control system may be configured to automatically command the device actuation system to extend the leading edge device from a sealed position to a gapped position when the edge control device is in the designated control device position and the gap command is received by the edge control system.

Leading edge system and method for approach noise reduction

A retractable chine assembly includes at least one chine which is hingebly mountable to a surface such as of an aircraft having a wing. The chine is preferably configured to be movable between stowed and deployed positions. The aircraft may include an engine nacelle which may be mounted on an underside of the wing. The nacelle may generate a nacelle wake that passes over the wing upper surface at high angles of attack and induces flow separation. The chine is preferably configured such that a vortex generated thereby interacts which the nacelle wake to delay flow separation and stall.

Retractable nacelle chine

An embodiment of an aircraft wing includes a main wing section and a variable incidence wing tip. The main wing section is adapted to connect to an aircraft fuselage at a first angle of incidence. The variable incidence wing tip is connected to the main wing section so that the variable incidence wing tip is rotatable to angles of incidence that are different from the first angle of incidence. An embodiment of a method for operating an aircraft includes generating a control signal based on an indication of a desired angle of incidence of a variable incidence wing tip, conveying the control signal to a wing tip rotation mechanism, and rotating the variable incidence wing tip in accordance with the control signal, so that the angle of incidence of the variable incidence wing tip is different from an angle of incidence of the main wing section.

Aircraft wing tip having a variable incidence angle

Aerospace vehicle leading edge slat devices and corresponding methods are generally disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward an aerospace vehicle system that includes an airfoil having a leading edge. The system further includes a first flow body fixedly coupled to the airfoil to form at least one gap between the leading edge of the airfoil and the first flow body. A second flow body can be coupled to the airfoil and can be movable between at least a retracted position where the second flow body is positioned to at least approximately aerodynamically seal the at least one gap, and an extended position where the second flow body is positioned to allow fluid flow through the at least one gap.

Aerospace vehicle leading edge slat devices and corresponding methods

Jet airplane

Jet airplane configuration

Growing community of inventors

Lynnwood, WA, United States of America

Christopher Andrew Konings