Patent ID: 8215587
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: B64D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A ram-air inflatable wing comprising: an upper skin having a leading edge, trailing edge and a pair of generally opposing lateral edges; a lower skin having a leading edge, trailing edge and a pair of generally opposing lateral edges; a plurality of elongated ribs, each having an upper edge and a lower edge, each pair of adjacent said ribs being spaced apart a predetermined distance, with at least a portion of said upper edge being affixed to said upper skin and at least a portion of said lower edge being affixed to said lower skin; a plurality of elongated cells, each cell defined by said upper skin, said lower skin and a pair of adjacent said ribs, each of said cell having at least one crossport allowing air flow in at least one direction from one cell to an adjacent cell; at least one rib of a first cell having at least one valve, each valve comprising a panel of flexible material partially attached on opposing sides of said crossport, said attachment spanning at least the width of said crossport, and to one side of said rib, at least a portion of said panel remaining free such that said free portion of said panel is urged into a sealing position against said rib when air pressure is lower in said first cell compared to the pressure in said second cell and urged to an open position when air pressure is higher in said first cell compared to the pressure in said second cell, whereby said second cell remains substantially inflated when air pressure inside said second cell is greater than the air pressure in said first cell thereby inhibiting deformation of said inflatable wing; and at least one air inlet positioned on said wing's leading edge whereby air flows into said inlet inflating said cells of said wing.