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US 9,764,824 B2Granted
Thermal actuation of riblets
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorWeidong Song
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermal actuation of riblets is described herein. One disclosed example apparatus includes a riblet defining an aerodynamic surface of a vehicle. The disclosed example apparatus also includes a thermal expansion element within or operatively coupled to the riblet, wherein the thermal expansion element changes shape in response to a surrounding temperature, to displace a movable portion of the riblet relative to the aerodynamic surface to alter an aerodynamic characteristic of the vehicle.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a riblet defining an aerodynamic surface of a vehicle;
- and
- a thermal expansion element within or operatively coupled to the riblet, wherein the thermal expansion element changes shape in response to a surrounding temperature, to displace a movable portion of the riblet relative to the aerodynamic surface to alter an aerodynamic characteristic of the vehicle, and wherein the thermal expansion element includes a negative thermal expansion material.
An apparatus comprising:
- a thermal expansion element embedded within or proximate a riblet structure, wherein the riblet structure is to define an aerodynamic surface of a vehicle, wherein the thermal expansion element expands, based on temperature, to cause one or more of a movable portion of the riblet structure or the thermal expansion element to displace away from the aerodynamic surface to alter an aerodynamic characteristic of the vehicle, and wherein the thermal expansion element includes a negative thermal expansion material.
A method comprising:
- using a thermal expansion element within or proximate a riblet structure;
- and
- allowing the thermal expansion element to displace at least a portion of the riblet structure relative to an aerodynamic surface to alter an aerodynamic characteristic of a vehicle, wherein the thermal expansion element includes a negative thermal expansion material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.