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:
Aug. 10, 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 for induced drag reduction and vortex cancellation. The wingtip vortex device is an aerodynamic drag reduction system installed at the wingtips of an aircraft. The wingtip vortex device comprises an impeller located ahead of the wingtip chord, a wind turbine device located behind the wingtip chord, and an intermediate gear device for coupling the impeller with the wind turbine and/or for generating power. Thus, the wingtip vortex device is self-contained as the impeller is powered by the vortex-driven turbine. As a result, induced drag is reduced without requiring an external power source such as the aircraft propulsion system.