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US 9,284,914 B2Granted
Variable geometry structure
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorJohn R. Webster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable geometry (2) structure comprising: an flexural element (4); a tensioning element (6) connected to the flexural element (8); and an actuator (12) for adjusting the tensioning element (6) to change the load placed on the flexural element (4), thereby changing the geometry of the structure (2).
Claims15
A variable geometry structure comprising:
- a flexural element having a distal end;
- a tensioning element having a forward end and a distal end, the distal end of the tensioning element being connected to the distal end of the flexural element;
- and
- an actuator comprising an actuator mechanism directly connected to the forward end of the tensioning element for adjusting the tensioning element to change the load placed on the flexural element, thereby bending the flexural element to change the geometry of the structure, the actuator being secured to the flexural element and the actuator mechanism being configured to adjust the tensioning element by pulling the forward end of the tensioning element, wherein
- the tensioning element has at least first, second and third configurations, the flexural element being substantially planar when the tensioning element is in the first configuration, the flexural element being curved in a first direction when the tensioning element is in the second configuration, the second configuration placing a higher load on the flexural element than the first configuration, and the flexural element being curved in a second, opposite direction and being unstressed by the tensioning element in the third configuration,
- the actuator being configured to move the tensioning element between the at least first, second and third configurations.
3 more elements
A variable geometry structure comprising:
- a flexural element having a distal end;
- a forcing element having a forward end and a distal end, the distal end of the forcing element being connected to the distal end of the flexural element;
- and
- an actuator comprising an actuator mechanism directly connected to the forward end of the forcing element for adjusting the forcing element to change the load placed on the flexural element, thereby bending the flexural element to change the geometry of the structure, the actuator being secured to the flexural element, the actuator mechanism being configured to control the forcing element to move the flexural element between at least first, second and third fixed positions, the first fixed position being a substantially planar position, the actuator mechanism moving the flexural element in a first direction from the first fixed position to the second fixed position, and the actuator mechanism moving the flexural element in a second direction opposite from the first direction from the first fixed position to the third fixed position.
1 more element
A variable geometry structure comprising:
- a flexural element having a distal end;
- a tensioning element having a forward end and a distal end, the distal end of the tensioning element being connected to the distal end of the flexural element, the tensioning element having a fixed length, the tensioning element comprising a material which returns to its original shape when a mechanical deforming load is removed, the tensioning element and the flexural element being separated by at least one spacing member, the at least one spacing member securing the tensioning element and the flexural element together;
- and
- an actuator comprising an actuator mechanism directly connected to the forward end of the tensioning element for adjusting the tensioning element by exerting the mechanical deforming load on the tensioning element to change the load placed on the flexural element, thereby bending the flexural element to change the geometry of the structure, the actuator being secured to the flexural element.
1 more element
A variable geometry structure comprising:
- a flexural element having a distal end;
- a tensioning element having a distal end, the distal end of the tensioning element being connected to the distal end of the flexural element, and the tensioning element having a proximal end, the proximal end of the tensioning element being connected to a cover member, the cover member forming an aerodynamically smooth surface with the tensioning element;
- and
- an actuator for adjusting the tensioning element to change the load placed on the flexural element, thereby bending the flexural element to change the geometry of the structure, the actuator being configured to push or pull a portion of the tensioning element in a transverse direction, the actuator being configured to control the tensioning element to move the flexural element between at least first and second fixed positions, the first fixed position being a substantially planar position, the actuator mechanism moving the flexural element in a first direction from the first fixed position to the second fixed position.
1 more element
A variable geometry structure comprising:
- a flexural element having a distal end;
- a tensioning element having a distal end, the distal end of the tensioning element being connected to the distal end of the flexural element, the tensioning element comprising a cavity;
- and
- an actuator for adjusting the tensioning element to change the load placed on the flexural element, thereby bending the flexural element to change the geometry of the structure, the tensioning element having a proximal end, the proximal end of the tensioning element being connected to a cover member, the cover member covering the flexural element, the actuator being configured to use a pressurised fluid to inflate or deflate the cavity thereby changing the shape of the cavity and changing the load on the flexural element.
1 more element
A variable geometry structure comprising:
- a flexural element having a distal end;
- a tensioning element having a distal end, the distal end of the tensioning element being connected to the distal end of the flexural element, a cavity being formed between the tensioning element and the flexural element;
- and
- an actuator for adjusting the tensioning element to change the load placed on the flexural element, thereby bending the flexural element to change the geometry of the structure, the tensioning element having a proximal end, the proximal end of the tensioning element being connected to a cover member, the cover member covering the flexural element, the actuator being configured to use a pressurised fluid to inflate or deflate the cavity thereby changing the shape of the cavity and changing the load on the flexural element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.