Back to results
US 6,260,567 B1Granted
Mission adaptive inlet
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsCynthia Ann Gruensfelder, Robert Henry Wille
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mission adaptive inlet (42) for an aircraft (40) has a rigid lip panel (56) pivotally attached to an inlet (42) of the aircraft (40). An actuation mechanism is coupled to the rigid lip panel (56) and causes the rigid lip panel (56) to pivot from a first position to a second position. A reinforced elastomer system (48) is connected the rigid lip panel and the inlet (42).
Claims25
A mission adaptive inlet for an aircraft for controlling airflow into an engine of the aircraft without forming gaps or surface discontinuities in the adaptive inlet, the adaptive inlet comprising:
- an inlet duct ducted to the engine;
- an exterior rigid structure attached to an exterior surface of an input port of the inlet duct of the aircraft;
- an interior rigid structure attached to an interior surface of the input port of the inlet duct of the aircraft;
- a plurality of shape memory alloy wires connected to the exterior rigid structure and the interior rigid structure, each of the plurality of shape memory alloy wires forming a non-linear shape;
- a flexible layer covering the plurality of shape memory alloy wires to form a lip adjacent the input port of the inlet duct;
- and
- wherein the shape memory alloy wires are operable to alter a shape of the lip, to thereby control the airflow into the inlet duct without creating gaps or surface discontinuities in the adaptive inlet.
4 more elements
A mission adaptive inlet for an aircraft to control airfow into a jet engine of the aircraft, the adaptive inlet comprising:
- an inlet duct in communication with the jet engine;
- a first mounting structure fixedly secured to an outer panel structure of the inlet duct adjacent an intake port of the inlet duct;
- a second mounting structure fixedly secured to an inner panel structure of the inlet duct adjacent to the intake port of the inlet duct;
- a plurality of shape memory alloy members having opposite ends secured to the first and second mounting structures to form a gradually curving configuration;
- a plurality of flexible beams each having outer ends thereof secured to the first and second mounting structures to assist in forming a gradually curving support framework;
- a flexible panel disposed over the flexible beams and the shape memory alloy members and secured to the first and second mounting structures, the flexible panel and the shape memory alloy members cooperating to form a lip having a gradually curving outer surface extending between the outer panel structure and the inner panel structure of the inlet duct, and forwardly of the inlet duct;
- the shape of the lip being controllable in response to signals applied to the shape memory alloy members to control the airflow into the inlet duct without creating gaps or surface discontinuities in the lip;
- and
- an inlet iris disposed within the inlet duct for altering the airflow through the inlet duct.
6 more elements
A method for controlling airflow into a jet engine of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming an air inlet duct on a fuselage of the aircraft, the inlet duct being in communication with the jet engine;
- securing a plurality of shape memory alloy members to an input port of the air inlet duct such that the plurality of shape memory alloy members form a gradually curving structure;
- and
- disposing a flexible material over the shape memory alloy members such that the flexible material and the shape memory alloy members cooperatively form a gradually curving lip projecting forwardly of the input port of the inlet duct, the shape memory alloy members being operable to alter the shape of the lip in response to signals applied to the shape memory alloy members to thereby control airflow into the inlet duct.
1 more element
A mission adaptive inlet for an aircraft to control airflow into a jet engine of the aircraft, the adaptive inlet comprising:
- an inlet duct in communication with the jet engine;
- a first mounting structure fixedly secured to an outer panel structure of the inlet duct adjacent an intake port of the inlet duct;
- a second mounting structure fixedly secured to an inner panel structure of the inlet duct adjacent to the intake port of the inlet duct;
- a plurality of shape memory alloy members having opposite ends secured to the first and second mounting structures to form a gradually curving configuration;
- a plurality of flexible beams each having outer ends thereof secured to the first and second mounting structures to assist in forming a gradually curving support framework;
- a flexible panel disposed over the flexible beams and the shape memory alloy members and secured to the first and second mounting structures, the flexible panel and the shape memory alloy members cooperating to form a lip having a gradually curving outer surface extending between the outer panel structure and the inner panel structure of the inlet duct, and forwardly of the inlet duct;
- the shape of the lip being controllable in response to signals applied to the shape memory alloy members to control the airflow into the inlet duct without creating gaps or surface discontinuities in the lip;
- and
- a plurality of microjets disposed within the inlet duct for altering the airflow through the inlet duct.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.