Back to results
US 9,868,135 B2Granted
Aerodynamic microstructures having sub-microstructures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsTimothy Leroy Williams, Diane C. Rawlings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aerodynamic microstructures having sub-microstructure are disclosed herein. One disclosed example apparatus includes an aerodynamic microstructure on an external surface of a vehicle, and sub-microstructures superimposed on the aerodynamic microstructure, where the sub-microstructures are spaced to reduce reflections.
Claims28
An apparatus comprising:
- an aerodynamic microstructure on an external surface of a vehicle, the aerodynamic microstructure having a pattern of triangular ridges;
- and
- sub-microstructures superimposed on the aerodynamic microstructure, wherein the sub-microstructures are spaced to reduce reflections, wherein spacings between the sub-microstructures are approximately between 0.4 and 0.7 microns, wherein the aerodynamic microstructure has relatively smaller sub-microstructures near a tip of the aerodynamic microstructure and relatively larger sub-microstructures near a valley of the aerodynamic microstructure.
An apparatus comprising:
- an aerodynamic microstructure on an external surface of a vehicle;
- and
- sub-microstructures superimposed on the aerodynamic microstructure, wherein the sub-microstructures are spaced to reduce reflections, wherein spacings between the sub-microstructures are approximately a wavelength of visible light, wherein the aerodynamic microstructure has relatively smaller sub-microstructures near a tip of the aerodynamic microstructure and relatively larger sub-microstructures near a valley of the aerodynamic microstructure.
A method comprising:
- operating a vehicle, wherein sub-microstructures are superimposed on aerodynamic microstructures of the vehicle, and wherein the sub-microstructures are separated by distances approximately between 0.4 and 0.7 microns to reduce reflections, the aerodynamic microstructures having a pattern of triangular ridges, wherein the aerodynamic microstructures have relatively smaller sub-microstructures near a tip corresponding to each of the aerodynamic microstructures and relatively larger sub-microstructures near a valley corresponding to each of the aerodynamic microstructures.
A method comprising:
- providing sub-microstructures on an aerodynamic microstructure, wherein the sub-microstructures are spaced to reduce reflections, wherein spacings between the sub-microstructures are approximately between 0.4 and 0.7 microns, the aerodynamic microstructure having a pattern of triangular ridges, wherein the aerodynamic microstructure has relatively smaller sub-microstructures near a tip of the aerodynamic microstructure and relatively larger sub-microstructures near a valley of the aerodynamic microstructure.
A method comprising:
- providing a textured external surface, via a tool, onto a riblet having a pattern of triangular ridges, the riblet associated with an external surface of a vehicle to reduce glint, wherein spacings between sub-microstructures of the textured external surface are approximately between 0.4 and 0.7 microns to reduce reflections, wherein the riblet has relatively smaller sub-microstructures near a tip of the riblet and relatively larger sub-microstructures near a valley of the riblet.
An apparatus comprising:
- an aerodynamic microstructure on an external surface of a vehicle, the aerodynamic microstructure having primary peaks and base surfaces between the primary peaks;
- and
- secondary peaks on or proximate the base surfaces, the secondary peaks having heights less than one-third of heights of the primary peaks, wherein the secondary peaks are located on an interface between a base portion of the aerodynamic microstructure and a color layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.