Morphing vane
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorEdward C. Rice
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for directing the flow of a fluid which comprises a channel for containing the fluid; an articulating vane positioned within the channel for directing the flow of the fluid, the vane comprising a fixed segment rigidly connected to the channel and a first moveable segment operably connected to the fixed segment by a first hub, the first hub configured to allow relative articulation between the segments; an actuator member operably connected to the moveable segment to articulate the moveable segment about the first hub; and wherein the vane further comprises a second moveable segment operably connected to the vane by a second hub, wherein the actuator member articulates the first and second moveable segments by applying a single moment to the first hubs.
Claims19
A system for directing the flow of a fluid comprising:
- a channel for containing the fluid;
- an articulating vane positioned within said channel for directing the flow of the fluid, said vane comprising a fixed segment rigidly connected to said channel and a first moveable segment operably connected to said fixed segment by a first hub, said first hub configured to allow relative articulation between said segments;
- an actuator member operably connected to said moveable segment to articulate said moveable segment about said first hub;
- and
- wherein said vane further comprises a second moveable segment operably connected to said vane by a second hub, wherein said actuator member articulates said first and second moveable segments by applying a single moment to said first hubs.
A system for directing the flow of a fluid comprising:
- a channel for containing the fluid;
- an articulating vane positioned within said channel for directing the flow of the fluid, said vane comprising a fixed segment rigidly connected to said channel and a first moveable segment operably connected to said fixed segment by a first hub, said first hub configured to allow relative articulation between said segments;
- an actuator member operably connected to said moveable segment to articulate said moveable segment about said first hub;
- and
- wherein said vane further comprises a plurality of moveable segments operably connected to said vane by a plurality of hubs, wherein said actuator member articulates said moveable segments by applying a single moment to said first hubs.
A system for directing the flow of a fluid in a turbofan jet engine comprising:
- a duct for containing the fluid;
- an articulating vane positioned within said duct for directing the flow of the fluid, said vane comprising a fixed segment rigidly connected to said duct and a first moveable segment operably connected to said fixed segment by a first hub, said first hub configured to allow relative articulation between said segments;
- an actuator member operably connected to said moveable segment to articulate said moveable segment about said first hub;
- and
- wherein said vane further comprises a plurality of moveable segments operably connected to said vane by a plurality of hubs, wherein said actuator member articulates said moveable segments by applying a single moment to said first hubs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.