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US 5,755,408 AGranted
Fluid flow control devices
OwnerRobert N. Schmidt, Greg S. Shawinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid flow control device, comprising a flow surface over which a fluid flows, a flow effect means located on the flow surface and operated by pressure such that the flow effect means improves the flow characteristics of the flow surface, pressure supply means to operate the flow effect means and at least one microelectromechanical system ("MEMS") valve means which controls the flow effect means by controlling the supply of pressure to the flow effect means from the pressure supply means.
Claims47
A fluid flow control device, comprising:
- a) a flow surface over which fluid flows;
- b) a flow effect means incorporated into said flow surface and operated by pressure, such that said flow effect means improves the flow characteristics of said flow surface;
- c) pressure supply means to operate said flow effect means;
- and
- d) at least one MEMS valve means which controls said flow effect means by controlling the supply of pressure to said flow effect means from said pressure supply means.
2 more elements
A fluid flow control device, comprising:
- a) a flow surface over which fluid flows;
- b) a flow effect means incorporated into said flow surface comprising at least one boundary layer penetrator having a normal position and capable of moving into and out of said flow surface such that the movement of said boundary layer penetrator improves the flow characteristics of said flow surface;
- c) pressure supply means to operate said flow effect means;
- d) at least one MEMS valve means which controls said flow effect means by controlling the supply of pressure to said boundary layer penetrator from said pressure supply means such that upon actuation of said MEMS valve means said boundary layer penetrator moves from a normal position;
- and
- e) reset means such that said reset means returns said boundary layer penetrator to its normal position upon deactuation of said MEMS valve means.
3 more elements
A fluid flow control device, comprising:
- a) a wing of an aircraft, said wing having a leading edge;
- b) at least one array of flow effect means incorporated in said wing, said flow effect means being a turbulence generator comprised of at least one boundary layer penetrator having a normal position and capable of moving into and out of said wing such that the movement of said boundary layer penetrator improves the aerodynamics of said wing;
- c) pressure supply means to operate said boundary layer penetrator, said pressure supply means comprised of a micromachined fluidic channel;
- d) at least one MEMS valve means which controls said flow effect means by controlling the supply of pressure to said boundary layer penetrator from said pressure supply means such that upon actuation of said MEMS valve means said boundary layer penetrator moves from its normal position;
- and
- e) reset means such that said reset means returns said boundary layer penetrator to its normal position upon deactuation of said MEMS valve means.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.