The Boeing Company

Edward W Gronenthal

Seiya Sakurai

Neal Van Huynh

Mithra M Sankrithi

Stephen John Fox

Paul W Dees

Gerhard E Seidel

Paul M Vijgen

Chester P Nelson

Douglas S Lacy

Eric Evin Adamson

Kevin W Beyer

Clayton A Prow

Stephen L Wells

Jack S Noble

Paul T Meredith

V Kenneth Stuhr

Michael F Fitzpatrick

Walter H Howard, Jr

Russell R Christianson

Paul L Johnson

Kenneth V Stuhr

Trailing edge devices configured to carry out multiple functions, and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed. An external fluid flow body (e.g., an airfoil) configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first portion and a second portion, at least a part of the second portion being positioned aft of the first portion, with the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a neutral position, a plurality of upward positions, and a plurality of downward positions. A guide structure can be coupled between the first and second portions, and an actuator can be operatively coupled between the first and second portions to move the second portion relative to the first portion. In one embodiment, a flexible surface can track the motion of the second portion and can expose a gap at some positions. In another embodiment, a controller can be coupled to the actuator and can be configured to direct the actuator to move the second portion to a high lift setting, a high drag setting, a roll setting, and a trim setting. In yet another embodiment, trailing edge devices on an airfoil can have scaled, mechanically similar guide structures.

Multi-function trailing edge devices and associated methods

Integrated high-speed aircraft, such as high-speed transport aircraft, and associated methods of manufacture. In one embodiment, a high-speed transport aircraft includes a fuselage having a first fuselage portion and a second fuselage portion positioned aft of the first fuselage portion. The first fuselage portion can have a first cross-sectional area and the second fuselage portion can have a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area. The high-speed transport aircraft can further include a wing and a propulsion system. The wing can extend outwardly from the fuselage at least proximate to the second fuselage portion and can include a leading edge region and a trailing edge region. The propulsion system can include an engine nacelle fixedly attached to the wing and laterally aligned with the second fuselage portion. In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle can include an air inlet positioned aft of the leading edge region of the wing and an exhaust gas outlet positioned aft of the trailing edge region of the wing.

Integrated high-speed aircraft and associated methods of manufacture

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Edward W Gronenthal