US 2021/0276665 A1 · APPARATUS WITH A CONTROLLABLE SURFACE FOR UNDERWATER BOUNDARY FLOW

Apparatus with a controllable surface for underwater boundary flow

AssigneesBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University, The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsXaiobo TAN, Thassyo DA SILVA PINTO, Demetris COLEMAN, Weilin HOU, Silvia MATT, Sergio RESTAINO, Freddie SANTIAGO, Hongyang SHI

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Abstract

An apparatus including a controllable fluid-contacting surface is provided. In another aspect, the present apparatus includes a flexible membrane and multiple actuators each having an output shaft or activation member coupled to a water-contacting membrane, with the shafts extending in a direction offset from the nominal outer surface of the membrane. A further aspect of the present apparatus includes an underwater vessel including a propulsion source, a flexible membrane having a water-contacting outer surface and an electronic controller including programmable software for actuating the actuators.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A controllable fluid-contacting surface apparatus comprising:

(a) a flexible membrane having a fluid-contactable outer surface extending in a first substantially planar direction;
(b) multiple actuators, each comprising an electromagnetic driver and an output shaft;
and
(c) the output shafts being coupled to the membrane such that a change in energization of at least one of the electromagnetic drivers causes the associated at least one of the output shafts to extend or retract in a second direction offset from the first direction, adapted to deform a shape of the membrane and vary flow of the fluid at the outer surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/667,089Filed 29 Oct 2019

Priority

19 Feb 2019

Published

9 Sep 2021

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

B63B 1/32
Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils: other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls
B63B 1/36
By reducing surface friction: using mechanical means
B63B 79/15
Using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers: for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
B63B 79/40
Monitoring properties or operating parameters of vessels in operation: for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed,…