Synthetic jet actuators for modifiying the direction of fluid flows

A method for modifying a direction of flow of a primary jet stream of fluid, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing said primary jet stream;
• (b) generating a synthetic jet stream that comprises a series of fluid vortices;
• (c) vectoring said synthetic jet stream with a means for changing a direction of said synthetic jet steam;
• and
• (c) modifying said direction of said primary jet stream by contacting said primary jet stream with said synthetic jet stream.

A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

• a housing defining an interior chamber and having a first opening in a wall of said housing;
• volume changing means for withdrawing a gas into said chamber and for forcing said gas out of said chamber through said first opening;
• wherein said forcing produces vortex sheets in a flow of said gas forced out of said first opening;
• at least one louver attached to said housing and aligned with a second opening in said housing;
• wherein said one louver permits said gas to flow in only one direction either into said chamber or out of said chamber whereby said one louver is a one-way valve;
• and
• a continuous synthetic jet stream produced by said vortex sheets.

A method of generating a fluid flow having vortex sheets, comprising the steps of:

• (a) withdrawing fluid into a chamber having an orifice and an opening;
• (b) forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice to generate said fluid flow having vortices, said vortices forming vortex sheets;
• (c) forming a continuous synthetic jet stream;
• and
• (d) selectively opening said opening with a louver so that fluid flows through said opening in only one direction with said one direction being either into said chamber during said withdrawing step or out of said chamber during said forcing step.

A method of generating a fluid flow having vortices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) withdrawing fluid into a chamber having an orifice and an opening;
• (b) forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice to generate said fluid flow having vortices;
• (c) selectively opening said opening with a louver so that fluid flows through said opening in only one direction with said one direction being either into said chamber during said withdrawing step or out of said chamber during said forcing step;
• (d) providing a primary jet stream;
• (e) generating a synthetic jet stream that comprises a series of fluid vortices;
• and
• (f) modifying a direction of said primary jet stream by contacting said primary jet stream with said synthetic jet stream.

A system for modifying a direction of a flow of a fluidic jet stream, comprising:

• at least two synthetic jets, each having:
• an opening, and
• a means for withdrawing a fluid through said opening and for forcing a fluid out of said opening;
• said opening of each synthetic jet actuator positioned adjacent to one-another such that said fluid out of each synthetic jet travels in parallel;
• and
• a means for separately controlling said forcing means of said synthetic jet actuators.

A synthetic jet actuator comprising:

• (a) a first pipe section embedded in a solid body with an exit in an outer surface of said solid body;
• (b) a second pipe section inside of and concentric to said first pipe section, wherein an exit of said second pipe section is recessed below and concentric to said exit of said first pipe section;
• (c) a means for supplying a constant suction in said second pipe section for drawing an ambient fluid into and through said second pipe section;
• (d) a means for alternately turning on and off a flow of fluid through and out of said exit of said first pipe section;
• and
• (e) a continuous synthetic jet stream produced by vortex sheets emitted out of said synthetic jet actuator.

A synthetic jet actuator comprising:

• (a) a first cylindrical section embedded in a solid body with an exit in an outer surface of said solid body;
• (b) a second cylindrical section inside of and concentric to said first cylindrical section, wherein an exit of said second cylindrical section is recessed below said exit of said first cylindrical section;
• (c) a means for supplying a constant suction in said second cylindrical section for drawing an ambient fluid into and through said second cylindrical section;
• (d) a means for alternately turning on and off a flow of fluid through and out of said exit of said first cylindrical section;
• (e) a synthetic jet stream produced by said synthetic jet actuator;
• and
• (f) a primary jet stream of fluid contacting said synthetic jet stream, a direction of said primary jet stream being modified by said synthetic jet stream.

A synthetic jet actuator system comprising:

• a synthetic jet actuator having a housing defining an interior chamber and having a first opening in a wall of said housing and a volume changing means for withdrawing a gas into said chamber and for forcing said gas out of said chamber through said first opening;
• a continuous synthetic jet stream produced by vortex sheets traveling through said first opening of said synthetic jet actuator;
• and
• a primary jet stream of fluid contacting said synthetic jet stream, a direction of said primary jet stream being modified by said synthetic jet stream.

A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

• a housing defining an interior chamber and having an orifice in a wall of said housing;
• volume changing means for successively withdrawing fluid into said chamber and for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice, said forcing of fluid out of said chamber generating a train of fluid vortices, said vortices entraining a fluid exterior to said chamber into a fluid stream projecting away from said orifice;
• at least one louver attached to said housing and aligned with an opening in said housing;
• wherein said one louver permits fluid flow in only one direction either into said chamber or out of said chamber whereby said one louver is a one-way valve;
• and
• wherein said one louver permits said volume changing means to force fluid out of said chamber through said opening but blocks fluid flow into said opening while said volume changing means withdraws fluid into said chamber through said orifice.

A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

• a housing defining an interior chamber and having an orifice in a wall of said housing;
• volume changing means for successively withdrawing fluid into said chamber and for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice, said forcing of fluid out of said chamber generating a train of fluid vortices, said vortices entraining a fluid exterior to said chamber into a fluid stream projecting away from said orifice;
• at least one louver attached to said housing and aligned with an opening in said housing;
• and
• a second louver aligned with a second opening in said housing;
• wherein said one louver permits fluid flow in only one direction either into said chamber or out of said chamber whereby said one louver is a one-way valve.

A method of generating a fluid flow having vortices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) withdrawing fluid into a chamber having an orifice and an opening;
• (b) forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice, wherein said forcing creates a train of fluid vortices projecting out from said orifice, said fluid vortices entraining a fluid exterior to said chamber into a synthetic stream;
• and
• (c) selectively opening said opening with a louver during said forcing step so that fluid flows out of chamber through said opening during said forcing step.

A method of generating a fluid flow having vortices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) withdrawing fluid into a chamber having an orifice and an opening;
• (b) forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice, wherein said forcing creates a train of fluid vortices projecting out from said orifice, said fluid vortices entraining a fluid exterior to said chamber into a synthetic stream;
• and
• (c) selectively actively opening said opening with a louver upon the application of a control signal so that fluid flows through said opening in only one direction with said one direction being either into said chamber during said withdrawing step or out of said chamber during said forcing step.

A method of generating a fluid flow having vortices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) withdrawing fluid into a chamber having an orifice and an opening;
• (b) forcing fluid out of said chamber through said orifice to generate vortex sheets projecting from said orifice, said vortex sheets entraining an ambient fluid into a stream of said ambient fluid propagating away from said orifice;
• and
• (c) selectively opening said opening with a louver during said withdrawing step;
• (d) introducing fluid into said chamber through said opening during said withdrawing step;
• and
• (e) opening a second louver aligned with said orifice during said forcing step and closing said louver during said withdrawing step.