(19) TZZ¥___T (11) EP 3 418 184 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 26.12.2018 Bulletin 2018/52 B64C 9/16 (2006.01) B60F 5/02 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 17176991.2 (22) Date of filing: 20.06.2017 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB • MACANDREW, Kenneth Douglas Alexander GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO 841 06 Bratislava-Zahorska Bystrica (SK) PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR • URIK, Tomas Designated Extension States: 908 41 Sastin-Straze (SK) BA ME • ROOMS, William Simon Designated Validation States: 841 02 Bratislava (SK) MA MD (74) Representative: Finnegan Europe LLP (71) Applicant: AeroMobil R&D, s. r. o. 1 London Bridge 82106 Bratislava-mestska cast Podunajske London SE1 9BG (GB) Biskupice (SK) (54) WING FLAP SYSTEM FOR FLYING CAR (57) A wing and flap system for an aircraft compris- mechanism for moving the flap between the first, second, ing: a wing (16); and a deployable flap (30) connected to and intermediate positions, comprising: a driven toothed the wing, the flap being moveable between a first position pinion (52) mounted in the wing; and first (36) and second in which a trailing edge portion of the wing substantially (38) struts, each substantially aligned with a plane includ- overlaps the flap and the angle of incidence of the flap ing a chord of the wing and extending between the pinion is substantially the same as the angle of incidence of the and the flap, each strut having a toothed rack (40, 42) wing, and a second position in which the trailing edge engaged with the toothed pinion such that operation of (33) of the flap is behind the trailing edge (34) of the wing the pinion moves each strut in a direction substantially and the angle of incidence of the flap is greater than that aligned with a plane including a chord of the wing, the of the wing, and an intermediate position between the first strut being connected to the flap relatively closer to first and second positions, in which the trailing edge of the leading edge thereof, and the second strut being con- the flap is behind the trailing edge of the wing and the nected to the flap relatively closer to the trailing edge angle of incidence of the flap is substantially the same thereof. The system can be used in a flying car having asthat ofthe wing; andfurther comprising a flapoperating foldable wings. EP 3 418 184 A1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 3 418 184 A1 2 Description pinion mounted in the wing; and first and second struts, each substantially aligned with a plane including a chord [0001] This invention relates to a flap system for use of the wing and extending between the pinion and the on an aircraft. In particular, it relates to such a system flap, each strut having a toothed rack engaged with the for use on a convertible vehicle that is configurable for 5 toothed pinion such that operation of the pinion moves both road and flight use, sometimes called a "flying car". each strut in a direction substantially aligned with a plane [0002] Flaps, such as deployable trailing edge flaps, including a chord of the wing, the first strut being con- are structures used to adjust the aerodynamic properties nected to the flap relatively closer to the leading edge of a wing, typically to change its lift characteristics. By thereof, and the second strut being connected to the flap extending trailing edge flaps, the wing can be adapted 10 relatively closer to the trailing edge thereof. to operate more effectively in low speed situations, such [0008] For example, the first position can have an an- as takeoff and landing, typically to decrease the stall gle ofattack that is in the range 0 - 10 degrees with respect speed of the wing. When the aircraft is properly airborne to the angle of attack of the wing and the second position and flying, the flaps can be retracted to increase the ef- can have an angle of attack that is greater than 10 de- ficiency of the wing and reduce drag. 15 grees with respect to the angle of attack of the wing, [0003] There are various types of trailing edge flap sys- optionally up to at least 35 degrees with respect to the tems. One type, known as a Fowler flap system, involves angle of attack of the wing. a two-stage movement of the flap as it is extended. In a [0009] The driven toothed pinion can be mounted for first stage, the flap extends mainly laterally from the trail- rotation about an axis substantially aligned with the span ing edge of the wing with little or no change of angle of 20 of the wing. attack with respect to the wing itself. The effect of this is [0010] Each rack can be a curved or arcuate rack such to extend the chord length (distance from the leading that operation of the pinion moves the connection to the edge of the wing to the trailing edge of the flap in the flap in both dimensions of the respective plane that in- direction of travel) of the whole wing and flap structure. cludes a chord of the wing. In this way the drive input In a second stage, the angle of attack of the flap with 25 from the pinion can be from a fixed position. The first and respect to the wing is increased, leading to an overall second struts can have different curved or arcuate racks. increase in the angle of attack of the wing and flap struc- In this way a single drive input can vary both the lateral ture. displacement of the flap from the wing and the angle of [0004] There have been a number of previous propos- attack of the flap. The rack on the first strut can have an als for flying car designs, i.e. vehicles that can be fully 30 equidistant distribution of teeth, and the rack on the sec- compliant with legal and practical requirements for both ond strut can have a non-equidistant distribution of teeth. road and flight use. Examples include the Terrafugia In this way the velocities of the connections of the struts Transition (WO 2007/114877) and the AeroMobil (WO to the flap can be made to vary. 2013/032409, WO 2016/057003, WO 2016/057004). [0011] Each strut can further comprise guide members [0005] The space available within the wings of these 35 that engage in guide tracks connected to the wing to con- vehicles for actuators and operating mechanisms is lim- strain the movement of the rack when the pinion is op- ited. In addition, it is usually necessary that operational erated. Each strut can have at least two guide members, controls between the body and the wing structure be ca- each guide member engaging in a respective guide track, pableof being disconnected for wing folding to take place. and each respective guide track defining a different path [0006] The invention aims to provide a wing and flap 40 of movement for its respective guide member. system that addresses at least some of these consider- [0012] The system can comprise at least two operating ations. mechanisms spaced along the span of the wing, the pin- [0007] A first aspect provides a wing and flap system ion of eachmechanism being defined on acommon shaft. for an aircraft, comprising: a wing; and a deployable flap Providing drive to the pinion of each operating mecha- connected to the wing, the flap being moveable between 45 nism can help avoid jamming due to distortion of com- a first position in which a trailing edge portion of the wing ponents. substantially overlaps the flap and the angle of incidence [0013] The pinion can be provided with a separable of the flap is substantially the same as the angle of inci- connection to be connectable to a motor located in a body dence of the wing, and a second position in which the of an aircraft to which the wing and flap system is con- trailing edge of the flap is behind the trailing edge of the 50 nected. wing and the angle of incidence of the flap is greater than [0014] Another aspect provides an aircraft comprising that of the wing, and an intermediate position between a convertible vehicle having a flight configuration and a the first and second positions, in which the trailing edge road use configuration, the aircraft comprising a body; of the flap is behind the trailing edge of the wing and the wheels for supporting, driving and steering the aircraft in angle of incidence of the flap is substantially the same 55 a road use configuration; and a pair of wings connected asthat ofthe wing; andfurther comprising a flapoperating to the body by a mounting structure, the wings being mov- mechanism for moving the flap between the first, second, able between an extended position in which the wings and intermediate positions, comprising: a driven toothed extend laterally from the body for a flight configuration, 2 3 EP 3 418 184 A1 4 and a folded position in which the wings extend along ture 10. The front wheels are both steerable and driven. the body from the mounting structure for a road use con- In addition, the front wheels 26 can be moved between figuration; wherein the wings comprise the wing and flap a retracted position (Figure 1) in which they are posi- system.