Airfoil flap assembly with flap track member

Abstract

An airfoil having a trailing edge flap assembly comprising a flap member having a track mounted thereto. The track member is operatively connected to a slide-block which is in turn mounted to stationary structure. High Fowler motion is accomplished with this arrangement. In another embodiment the flap is additionally provided with a foreflap. In further embodiments, the flap assembly is provided additionally with aft flaps.

I claim: 
     
       1. A flap assembly for an airfoil having a forward end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said flap assembly comprising: (a) a mounting structure located at the rear end of the airfoil, said mounting structure having a track mounting portion at a track mounting location,   (b) a first flap member having a stowed first position at the rear end of the airfoil, and movable rearwardly through an intermediate second position to a fully extended third position,   (c) said flap member having mounted thereto a substantially longitudinally aligned track member operatively connected to said track mounting portion for longitudinal and rotational movement relative thereto, said track member having a forward end and a rear end, said track member being characterized in that with the flap member in the first position, the rear end of the track member is at the track mounting location, and with the flap member in its third position, the forward end of the track member is at the track mounting .[.position.]..Iadd.location.Iaddend.,   (d) actuating means operatively connected to said flap member at a connecting location spaced forwardly of the forward end of the track member and having a fixed location relative to the flap member, said actuating means being arranged to move said connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path .[.component.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.generally aligned with .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.lengthwise axis of the track .Iadd.member .Iaddend.to move said flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.between the stowed position and the intermediate position so as to cause substantial Fowler motion of the flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.with relatively little rotation of the lengthwise axis of the track member relative to the mounting structure at the track mounting location, and to move the connecting location along a second path portion, having a substantial upward path component to move the flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.between the intermediate position and the third position so as to cause relatively less Fowler motion with relatively greater rotation of the legthwise axis of the track member relative to the mounting structure at the track mounting location.   
     
     
       2. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises an actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said second path portion being substantially vertically aligned. .[.3. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said connecting location is spaced forward of the mounting location, said actuating means arranged to move said flap member in a manner that it moves the connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path portion between the first and second positions of the flap, then along a second path portion which has a substantial upward vertical component in moving the flap member between the second and third position..]. .[.4. The flap assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said actuating means comprises actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said second path portion being 
     
     
        substantially vertically aligned..]. 5. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap member has a chordwise axis and said track member has a lengthwise axis which is substantially linear and along which it moves relative to the mounting portion, the lengthwise axis of the track member extending rearwardly and downwardly relative to the chordwise 
     
     
        axis of the flap member. 6. The flap assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said actuating means comprises an actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said second path portion being 
     
     
        substantially vertically aligned. 7. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said track member comprises a slide-way and said mounting portion comprises a slide-block mounted for slide motion relative to the 
     
     
        slide-way. 8. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fairing pivotally mounted at a forward end thereof for downward movement as said flap member moves from its stowed first position to its third position, said flap assembly having link means to cause downward pivotal 
     
     
        movement of said fairing. 9. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said track member and said mounting portion are so arranged relative to the actuating means that with said flap member in its intermediate position, said flap member forms a slot between said airfoil 
     
     
        and said flap member. 10. The flap assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein there is a vane member mounted to a leading edge of the flap member independent of the airfoil, said vane member being positioned so that with the flap member in its intermediate position, the vane member is located adjacent the rear end of said airfoil and above asid slot, said flap assembly being further characterized in that with the flap member in its fully extended third position, the vane member is spaced from the rear end 
     
     
        of the airfoil to form a second slot with the airfoil. 11. The flap assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second flap member having a fourth stowed position adjacent said first flap member, and movable rearwardly to an intermediate fifth position and to a fully deployed sixth position, where said second flap member is spaced from said 
     
     
        first flap member. 12. The flap assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said second flap member is mounted to said first flap member by a linkage which causes said second flap member to move longitudinally and angularly relative to said first flap member as the first flap member moves between 
     
     
        its first and third positions. 13. The flap assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said second flap member has a second track member that has a substantial alignment component generally parallel to a chordwise axis of the second flap member, said first flap member having a second track mounting portion to which said second track member is operatively connected for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said flap assembly further having second actuating means to cause said second flap member to move rearwardly relative to said first flap member upon rearward movement 
     
     
        of said first flap member. 14. A flap assembly for an airfoil having a forward end, a rear end, a .[.logitudinal.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.axis and a transverse axis, said flap assembly comprising: a. a mounting structure located at the rear end of the airfoil, said mounting structure having a track mounting portion at a track mounting location,   b. a first flap member having a stowed first position at the rear end of the airfoil, and movable rearwardly through an intermediate second position to a fully extended third position,   c. said flap member having mounted thereto a substantially longitudinally aligned track member operatively connected to said track mounting portion for .[.logitudinal.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.and rotational movement relative thereto said track member having a forward end and a rear end, said track member being characterized in that with the flap member in the first position, the rear end of the track member is at the track mounting location, and with the flap member in its third position, the forward end of the track member is at the track mounting .[.position.]..Iadd.location.Iaddend.,   d. actuating means operatively connected to said flap member at a connecting location spaced forwardly of the forward end of the track member, said actuating means being arranged to move said connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path component generally aligned with the .[.legthwise.]. .Iadd.lengthwise .Iaddend.axis of the track .Iadd.member .Iaddend.to move said flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.between the stowed position and the intermediate position so as to cause substantial Fowler motion of the flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.with relatively little rotation of the lengthwise axis of the track member relative to the mounting structure at the track mounting location, and to move the connecting location along a second path portion, having a substantial upward path component to move the flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.between the intermediate position and the third position so as to cause relatively less Fowler motion with relatively greater rotation of the legthwise axis of the track member relative to the mounting structure at the track mounting location.[...]..Iadd.; and .Iaddend.   e. said track member and said mounting portion being so aranged relative to the actuating means that with said flap member in its intermediate position, said flap member forms a slot between said airfoil and said flap   
     
     
        member.  15. The flap assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein there is a vane member mounted to a leading edge of the flap member independent of the airfoil, said vane member being positioned so that with the flap member in its intermediate position, the vane member is located adjacent the rear end of said airfoil and above said slot, said flap assembly being further characterized in that with the flap member in its fully extended third position, the vane member is spaced from the rear end of the airfoil 
     
     
        to form a second slot with the airfoil. 16. The flap assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said actuating means comprises an actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said second path portion being substantially vertically aligned. .[.17. The flap assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said connected location is spaced forwardly of the mounting location, said actuating means arranged to move said flap member in a manner that it moves the connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path portion between the first and second positions of the flap, then along a second path portion which has a substantial upward vertical component in moving the flap member 
     
     
        between the second and third position..]. 18. A flap assembly for an airfoil having a forward end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said flap assembly comprising: (a) a mounting structure located at the rear end of the airfoil, said mounting structure having a track mounting portion at a track mounting location,   (b) a first flap member having a stowed first position at the rear end of the airfoil, and movable rearwardly through an intermediate second position to a fully extended third position,   (c) said flap member having mounted thereto a substantially longitudinally aligned track member operatively connected to said track mounting portion for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said track member having a forward end and a rear end, said track member being characterized in that with the flap member in the first position, the rear end of the track member is at the track mounting location, and with the flap member in its third position, the forward end of the track member is at the track mounting .[.position.]..Iadd.location.Iaddend.,   (d) actuating means operatively connected to said flap member at a connecting location to move said flap member between its first and third positions, said connecting location being spaced longitudinally from the track mounting location, said actuating means being arranged to move the flap member from the first position to the intermediate position in a first path portion having a substantial longitudinal path component to cause substantial Fowler motion of the flap member with relatively little rotation, and the actuating means then moves along a second path portion having a substantial vertical path component to cause substantial rotation of the flap member about the track mounting location in moving from the intermediate position to the third position,   (e) a second flap member having a fourth stowed position adjacent said first flap member, and movable rearwardly to an intermediate fifth position and to a fully deployed sixth position, where said second flap member is spaced from said first flap member, said second flap member being mounted to said first flap member by a linkage which causes said second flap member to move longitudinally and angularly relative to said first flap member as the first flap member moves between its first and   
     
     
        third positions. 19. The flap assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein said actuating means comprises as actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said second path portion being 
     
     
        substantially vertically aligned. 20. The flap assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein said connecting location is spaced forwardly of the mounting location, said actuating means arranged to move said flap member in a manner that it moves the connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path portion between the first and second positions of the flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.then along a second path portion which has a substantial upward vertical component in moving the 
     
     
        flap member between the second and third position. 21. A flap assembly for an airfoil having a forward end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said flap assembly comprising: (a) a mounting structure located at the rear end of the airfoil, said mounting structure having a track mounting portion at a track mounting location,   (b) a first flap member having a stowed first position at the rear end of the airfoil, and movable rearwardly through an intermediate second position to a fully extended third position,   (c) said flap member having mounted thereto a substantially longitudinally aligned .Iadd.first .Iaddend.track member operatively connected to said track mounting portion for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said track member having a forward end and a rear end, said track member being characterized in that with the flap member in the first position, the rear end of the track member is at the track mounting location, and with the flap member in its third position, the forward end of the track member is at the track mounting .[.position.]..Iadd.location.Iaddend.,   (d) actuating means operatively connected to said flap member at a connecting location to move said flap member between its first and third positions, said connecting location being spaced longitudinally from the track mounting location, said actuating means being arranged to move the flap member from the first position to the intermediate position in a first path portion having a substantial longitudinal path component to cause substantial Fowler motion of the flap member with relatively little rotation, and the actuating means then moves along a second path portion having a substantial vertical path component to cause substantial rotation of the flap member about the track mounting location in moving from the intermediate position to the third position,   (e) a second flap member having a fourth stowed position adjacent said first flap member, and movable rearwardly to an intermediate fifth position and to a fully deployed sixth position, where said second flap member is spaced from said first flap member,   (f) said second flap member having a second track member that has a substantial alignment component generally parallel to a chordwise axis of the second flap member, said first flap member having a second track member which is operatively connected for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said flap assembly further having second actuating means to cause said second flap member to move rearwardly relative to said first flap   
     
     
        member upon rearward movement of said first flap member. 22. The flap assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said actuating means comprises an actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said 
     
     
        second path portion being substantially vertically aligned. 23. The flap assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said connected location is spaced forwardly of the mounting location, said actuating means arranged to move said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.flap member in a manner that it moves the connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path portion between the first and second positions of the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.flap .Iadd.member .Iaddend.then along a second path portion which has a substantial upward vertical component in moving the .Iadd.first 
     
     
        .Iaddend.flap member between the second and third position. 24. The flap assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.flap member has a chordwise axis and said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.track member has a lengthwise axis along which it moves relative to the mounting portion, the lengthwise axis of the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.track member extending rearwardly and downwardly relative to the chordwise axis of the flap 
     
     
        member. 25. The flap assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.track member comprises a slide-way and said mounting portion comprises a slide-block mounted for slide motion relative to the 
     
     
        slide-way. .Iadd.26.  A flap assembly for an airfoil having a forward end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis and a traverse axis, said flap assembly comprising: a. a mounting structure located at the rear end of the airfoil;   b. a first flap member having a lengthwise axis and having a stowed first position at the rear end of the airfoil, and movable rearwardly through an intermediate second position to a fully extended third position;   c. a track mounting portion mounted to one of said mounting structure and said flap member at a track mounting location;   d. a substantially longitudinally aligned track member mounted to the other of said mounting structure and said flap member and operatively connected to said track mounting portion for longitudinal and rotational movement relative thereto, said track member having a first end and a second end, said track member being characterized in that with the flap member in the first position, the first end of the track member is at the track mounting location, and with the flap member in its third position, the second end of the track member is at the track mounting location; and   e. actuating means operatively connected to said flap member at a connecting location having a fixed location relative to the flap member, said actuating means being arranged to move said connecting location substantially longitudinally along a first path portion generally aligned with a lengthwise axis of the flap member to move said flap member between the stowed position and the intermediate position so as to cause substantial Fowler motion of the flap member with relatively little rotation of the flap member relative to the mounting structure at the track mounting location, and to move the connecting location along a second path portion, having a substantial upward path component to move the flap member between the intermediate position and the third position so as to cause relatively less Fowler motion with relatively greater rotation of the lengthwise axis of the flap member relative to the mounting structure at the track mounting location. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The flap assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein said acuating means comprises an actuating member which moves along a substantially arcuate path with said first path portion being substantially longitudinally aligned, and said second path portion being substantially vertically aligned. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The flap assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein said track member comprises a slide-way and said mounting portion comprises a slide-block mounted for slide motion relative to the slide-way. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The flap assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising a fairing pivotally mounted at a forward end thereof for downward movement as said flap member moves from its stowed first position to its third position, said flap assembly having link means to cause downward pivotal movement of said fairing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The flap assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein said track member and said mounting portion are so arranged relative to the actuating means that with said flap member in its intermediate position, said flap member forms a slot between said airfoil and said flap member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The flap assembly as recited in claim 30, wherein there is a vane member mounted to a leading edge of the flap member independent of the airfoil, said vane member being positioned so that with the flap member in its intermediate position, the vane member is located adjacent the rear end of said airfoil and above said slot, said flap assembly being further characterized in that the flap member in its fully extended third position, the vane member is spaced from the rear end of the airfoil to form a second slot with the airfoil. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The flap assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising a second flap member having a fourth stowed position adjacent said first flap member, and movable rearwardly to an intermediate fifth position and to a fully deployed sixth position, where said second flap member is spaced from said first flap member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The flap assembly as recited in claim 32, wherein said second flap member is mounted to said first flap member by a linkage which causes said second flap member to move longitudinally and angularly relative to said first flap member as the first flap member moves between its first and third positions. .Iaddend.