Wing tip device

Abstract

A wing tip device having a first wing tip device element for attaching at a first wing tip device element root to a tip of an aircraft wing, and a second wing tip device element extending from a second wing tip device element root to a second wing tip device element tip, the second wing tip device element root outboard, when viewed in the wing planform direction, of the first wing tip device element root; the first wing tip device element having a first wing tip device element leading edge and a first wing tip device element trailing edge, and the second wing tip device element having a second wing tip device element leading edge and a second wing tip device element trailing edge; and a fairing between the first and second wing tip device element which extends aft from the second wing tip device element trailing edge.

The invention is: 
     
         1 . A wing tip device comprising:
 a first wing tip device element for attaching at a first wing tip device element root to a tip of an aircraft wing;   a second wing tip device element extending from a second wing tip device element root to a second wing tip device element tip, the second wing tip device element root is outboard, when viewed in a wing planform direction, of the first wing tip device element root, wherein the first wing tip device element includes a first wing tip device element leading edge and a first wing tip device element trailing edge, and the second wing tip device element includes a second wing tip device element leading edge and a second wing tip device element trailing edge; and   a fairing between the first and second wing tip device element extending aft from the second wing tip device element trailing edge.   
     
     
         2 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wing tip device element trailing edge is forward of the first wing tip device element trailing edge. 
     
     
         3 . The wing tip device according to  claim 2 , wherein the fairing extends to the first wing tip device element trailing edge. 
     
     
         4 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing extends aft of the first wing tip device element trailing edge. 
     
     
         5 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing is separable from the first wing tip device element and/or second wing tip device element. 
     
     
         6 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing is integrally formed with the second wing tip device element. 
     
     
         7 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , including a vertex between the second wing tip device element and the first wing tip device element, when viewed in the aircraft longitudinal direction, the vertex having an angle of less than 120 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing has a width extending across the first wing tip device element in a direction of a thickness of the second wing tip device element, and wherein the width is at least 15% of the root thickness of the second wing tip device element and/or no more than 100% of the root thickness of the second wing tip device element. 
     
     
         9 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wing tip device element has a wetted area and the second wing tip device element has a wetted area, and wherein the wetted area of the second wing tip device element is larger than the wetted area of the first wing tip device element. 
     
     
         10 . The wing tip device according to  claim 9 , wherein the wetted area of the second wing tip device element is less than 20% of the wetted area of the first wing tip device element. 
     
     
         11 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing extends towards the leading edge of the second wing tip device element along an upper aerodynamic surface and/or a lower aerodynamic surface of the second wing tip device element. 
     
     
         12 . The wing tip device according to  claim 11 , wherein the fairing extends around the leading edge of the second wing tip device between the upper and lower aerodynamic surface areas. 
     
     
         13 . The wing tip device according to  claim 4 , wherein an avionic system or light is attached to the fairing at a position aft of the first wing tip device element trailing edge. 
     
     
         14 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wing tip device element is an upwardly extending wing tip device element. 
     
     
         15 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wing tip device element is a downwardly extending wing tip device element. 
     
     
         16 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing forms an angle o less than 40 degrees to the first and/or second wing tip device element at an intersection of the fairing to the respective wing tip device element. 
     
     
         17 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing has a concave outer surface, when viewed in the aircraft longitudinal direction, between the first wing tip device element and second wing tip device element. 
     
     
         18 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing encloses a hollow volume. 
     
     
         19 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more fasteners are disposed between the fairing and the first wing tip device element or second wing tip device element. 
     
     
         20 . The wing tip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wing tip device element root is attached at a junction to the first wing tip device element outboard, when viewed in the wing planform direction, of the first wing tip device element root; and wherein the second wing tip device element trailing edge is forward of the first wing tip device element trailing edge at the junction. 
     
     
         21 . An aircraft wing assembly comprising:
 a fixed wing including a fixed wing root attached to a fuselage of an aircraft, a fixed wing tip at an end of the fixed wing opposite to the root;   a first wing tip device element including a first root, a first tip, a first leading edge, a first trailing edge and a first skin spanning the first leading edge and the first trailing edge, wherein the first root is attached to the fixed wing tip and wherein the first leading edge and the first trailing edge both span between the first root and the first tip;   a second wing tip device element including a second root, a second tip, a second leading edge, a second trailing edge and a skin spanning the second leading and trailing edges, wherein the second root is attached to the first wing tip device and extends from the first skin at a position on the first skin outboard of the first root along a wing planform direction; and   a fairing covering a junction between the first and second wing tip devices wherein the fairing includes a fairing skin spanning the first and second skins, and the fairing skin extends from at least the second leading edge to aft of the second trailing edge.   
     
     
         22 . The aircraft of  claim 21 , wherein the fairing extends aft of the first trailing edge. 
     
     
         23 . The method of assembling a wing tip device, the wing tip device including:
 a first wing tip device element with a first wing tip device element root end for attaching to an aircraft wing and a first wing tip device element trailing edge, a second wing tip device element having a second wing tip device element root end and a second wing tip device element trailing edge, and a fairing;   the method comprising the steps of:   attaching the second wing tip device element root end to the first wing tip device element outboard of the first wing tip device element root end, and;   attaching the fairing between the first and second wing tip device elements which extends aft from the second wing tip device element trailing edge.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the second wing tip device element root end is attached to the first wing tip device element at a junction outboard of the first wing tip device element root end such that the second wing tip device trailing edge is forward of the first wing tip device element trailing edge at the junction.