The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 11, 1998
Heinz Adolf Gerhardt, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a wingtip vortex device installed at the wingtips of an aircraft for induced drag reduction and vortex cancellation. Also, the wingtip vortex device is self-contained and is powered by the wingtip vortex. The wingtip vortex device comprises a shaft coupled between the wing and a spinner. The spinner is a streamlined body of revolution with a number of radial fins. The wingtip vortex of the aircraft induces spinner whirl, which is opposite to that of the wingtip vortex. As a result, the spinner-induced whirl produces an upwash superimposed on the downwash of the vortex. Thus, the total downwash, and hence the induced drag, are reduced.