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US 2015/0090356 A1Published application
Vortex generators
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDan John Clingman, Esther Shifra Zidovetzki, Randy Lee Macaraeg Mallari
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Abstract
Vortex generators are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing including a surface. The example apparatus also includes a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing. The bimorph actuator includes a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface. A blade is rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, and the bimorph actuator is to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing including a surface;
- a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing, the bimorph actuator including a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface;
- and
- a blade rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a blade;
- and
- a bimorph actuator operatively coupled to the blade, the bimorph actuator including a fixed portion and a movable portion to enable deflection of the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade, the blade in a first position to define a portion of a surface, the blade in a second position to generate a vortex in a fluid adjacent the surface.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a bimorph actuator disposed in a housing defining a surface, the bimorph actuator having a first portion substantially stationary relative to the surface;
- and
- a blade operatively coupled to the bimorph actuator, deflection of the bimorph actuator to extend or retract the blade relative to the surface, an edge of the blade to be in a first orientation relative to the surface when the blade is retracted, the edge of the blade to be in a second orientation relative to the surface when the blade is deployed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.