Vernier active flow control effector
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsClete M. Boldrin, Ahmed A. Hassan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling the attitude of a mobile platform with a resolution suitable for vernier attitude control. In a preferred embodiment, a method includes flowing fluid through an orifice of an aerodynamic surface. The method also includes modifying a boundary layer of the aerodynamic surface with the flowing fluid. Another preferred embodiment provides an aerodynamic member of a mobile platform. The aerodynamic member includes an aerodynamic surface, an orifice, an actuator, and a fluid moving member. The orifice is in the aerodynamic surface and the actuator is subject to friction and backlash. The fluid moving member communicates with the orifice and causes the fluid to flow through the orifice to modify the boundary layer of aerodynamic surface.
Claims15
A mobile platform, comprising:
- an aerodynamic surface, a fluid to flow generally adjacent to the aerodynamic surface and to form a boundary layer generally adjacent thereto;
- at least a first orifice and a second orifice of the aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a fluid moving member internal to the mobile platform and communicating with at least the first orifice and the second orifice, the fluid moving member adapted to cause a portion of the fluid to flow between at least the first orifice, the second orifice and the fluid moving member to modify the boundary layer of the fluid flowing adjacent to the aerodynamic surface, the portion of the fluid to define a resolution associated with the modification of the boundary layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.