Patent ID: 7549839
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: F01D,F05D,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An inlet guide vane comprising: a fixed airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and a variable incidence airfoil having a leading edge spaced aft of the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil by a gap, the variable incidence airfoil being pivotable about an axis near the leading edge of the variable incidence airfoil, wherein the leading edge of the variable incidence airfoil remains masked behind the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil throughout a full variable range of incidence of the variable incidence airfoil and wherein the variable incidence airfoil is completely masked behind the trailing edge of the fixed airfoil on a suction side when the variable incidence airfoil is in a fully deflected position and when the variable incidence airfoil is in a zero deflected position, wherein the variable incidence airfoil and the fixed airfoil are shaped and positioned in order to energize low momentum flow in the gap and entrain the flow from the gap in a boundary layer of the variable incidence airfoil during operation, wherein the boundary layer of the variable incidence airfoil is on a pressure side surface of the variable incidence airfoil.