Vortex generators
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDan John Clingman, Esther Shifra Zidovetzki, Randy Lee Macaraeg Mallari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vortex generators are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing including a surface. The example apparatus also includes a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing. The bimorph actuator includes a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface. A blade is rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, and the bimorph actuator is to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing including a surface;
- a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing, the bimorph actuator including a first bimorph beam and a second bimorph beam spaced apart from the first bimorph beam, the first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface;
- and
- a blade rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface, wherein the blade is disposed in a space between the first bimorph beam and the second bimorph beam when the blade is in a retracted position.
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing including a surface;
- a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing, the bimorph actuator including a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface, wherein the first portion is fixedly coupled to a base, and a second portion of the first bimorph beam is slidably coupled to the base;
- and
- a blade rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.
An apparatus comprising:
- a blade;
- and
- a bimorph actuator operatively coupled to the blade, the bimorph actuator including a fixed portion and a movable portion to enable deflection of the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade, the blade in a first position to define a portion of a surface, the blade in a second position to generate a vortex in a fluid adjacent the surface, wherein the movable portion of the bimorph actuator is disposed in a slot defined by a base, the slot to guide translational movement of the moveable portion of the bimorph actuator.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a bimorph actuator disposed in a housing defining a surface, the bimorph actuator having a first portion substantially stationary relative to the surface and a second portion slidably coupled to the surface;
- and
- a blade operatively coupled to the bimorph actuator, deflection of the bimorph actuator to extend or retract the blade relative to the surface, an edge of the blade to be in a first orientation relative to the surface when the blade is retracted, the edge of the blade to be in a second orientation relative to the surface when the blade is deployed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.