Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Steven Louis Pauletti

Kendall G Young

Douglas William Leggett

A flexible structural frame ( ) includes a structure ( ) having a passage ( ), the walls ( ) of the passage ( ) defining an opening ( ). The flexible structural frame ( ) also includes a piece of elastomeric material ( ) that has a first surface ( ) and a second surface ( ). The first surface ( ) of the elastomeric material ( ) is coupled to at least one of the walls ( ) of the passage ( ). The flexible structural frame ( ) further includes at least one rigid member ( ) coupled to the elastomeric material ( ) and at least one tension bearing member ( ) coupled to the rigid member ( ), such that the elastomeric material ( ) is compressed when the tension applied to the tension bearing member ( ) increases.

Flexible structural frame

A flight control system provides a maximized mechanical advantage when the load of the airstream on the airfoil is also at a maximum. A control surface is pivotally mounted for movement through a range of positions between a neutral position at which airstream load thereon is a minimum and upwardly and downwardly deflected positions, the airstream load being a maximum in either of the deflected positions. An operator mechanism for moving the control surface between the upwardly and downwardly deflected positions includes a rotor mounted on the airfoil for rotation about a chordwise extending rotary axis and has a horn member with a terminal end offset from the rotary axis. The terminal end of the horn member is slidably engaged with the guide track and an actuator rotates the rotor and by reason of the slidable engagement of the horn member with the guide track moves the control surface.

Aerodynamic control surface system

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aerodynamic control device for use with an aerodynamic lifting member. The lifting member is defined by a horizontal reference plane disposed therethrough. The control device is provided with at least one support rotor extending from the lifting member. The support rotor is sized and configured to rotate about a rotor axis of rotation which is disposed generally parallel to the horizontal reference plane. The support rotor has an inboard segment which is disposed along the rotor axis of rotation and in rotational communication with the lifting member. The support rotor has an outboard segment disposed off-set from the rotor axis of rotation. The control device is further provided with a control device body which is engaged with the outboard segment of the support rotor. The control device body is sized and configured to translate generally orthogonal to the horizontal reference plane in response to rotation of the support rotor.

Rotor driven edge

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a structural transition system for use between an aerodynamic lifting member and an aerodynamic control device attached thereto. The aerodynamic lifting member has an indenture formed therein which is defined by a first shoulder portion. The control device has a first end and is disposed within the indenture with the first end adjacent the first shoulder portion. The control device is sized and configured to rotate about a control device axis of rotation for deflecting the control device relative to the lifting member. The structural transition system is provided with a torque transfer element disposable between and in mechanical communication with the first shoulder portion and the first end. The torque transfer element is sized and configured to deform in response to deflection of the control device. The structural transition system is further provided with at least two of support elements distributed between the first shoulder portion and the first end. The support elements are in mechanical communication with the torque transfer element. The support elements are sized and configured to incrementally rotate generally about the control device axis of rotation in response to deformation of the torque transfer element.

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Mesquite, TX, United States of America

Steven Louis Pauletti