The Boeing Company

Abraham Naroll Gissen

James Henry Mabe

Frederick Theodore Calkins

Rene Woszidlo

Eric S Mindock

Miguel A Estevez

Arvin Shmilovich

Roger David Bernhardt

Douglas E Nicholson

Micheal A Bass

Ryan L Hupp

Alexander David Lee

Benjamin A Rothacker

Alexander D Lee

An apparatus includes a thermally conductive interface assembly including a first component associated with a first interface surface and a second component associated with a second interface surface. The apparatus also includes a shape memory alloy component coupled to the thermally conductive interface assembly and configured to move one or more components of the thermally conductive interface assembly between a first state and a second state based on a temperature of the shape memory alloy component. In the first state, the first interface surface is in physical contact with the second interface surface, and in the second state, a gap is defined between the first interface surface and the second interface surface.

System and method for shape memory alloy thermal interface

Flow control systems having movable slotted plates are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a flow control plate to be placed proximate an opening of an aerodynamic body. The opening has a first slot and the flow control plate has a second slot angled relative to the opening. The apparatus also includes an actuator to move the flow control plate relative to the opening in a linear oscillatory motion to vary a flow of fluid exiting the opening over the aerodynamic body. The flow of fluid is to flow from the second slot to the first slot.

Flow control systems having movable slotted plates

Methods and apparatus to generate oscillating fluid flows in heat exchangers are disclosed. A disclosed fluid flow apparatus includes a repeating pattern of fins arranged in rows, where fins of each row are separated from one another by channels, where the fins have respective sub-channels extending therethrough to facilitate oscillation of fluid moving through the channels, and where each of the sub-channels defines a sub-channel inlet and a sub-channel outlet of a respective fin of the pattern.

Methods and apparatus to generate oscillating fluid flows in heat exchangers

Shape memory alloy actuators with heat transfer structures, actuated assemblies including the shape memory alloy actuators, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed herein. The shape memory alloy actuators include a shape memory alloy torque tube and a heat transfer structure. The actuated assemblies include a base structure, an attached component, and a shape memory alloy actuator that operatively attaches the attached component to the base structure. The methods include providing a shape memory alloy torque tube, providing a heat transfer structure, applying a dimension-modifying force to the heat transfer structure, combining the heat transfer structure with the shape memory alloy torque tube, and releasing the dimension-modifying force.

Shape memory alloy actuators with heat transfer structures, actuated assemblies including the shape memory alloy actuators, and methods of manufacturing the same

An apparatus is provided for dynamically controlling airflow behind a carrier aircraft to redirect air flow during an in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus comprises a frame attached to an end portion of an arm member extending from the carrier aircraft. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vanes disposed within the frame. Each vane is controllable between an opened position and a closed position to dynamically modify the airflow behind the carrier aircraft during the in-flight recovery of the UAV. Alternatively, or in addition to, the apparatus comprises a plurality of compressed air jets disposed on the frame, wherein each jet is controllable to provide active airflow to dynamically modify the airflow behind the carrier aircraft during the in-flight recovery of the UAV.

Methods of dynamically controlling airflow behind a carrier aircraft to redirect air flow during an in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle and an apparatus therefor

Growing community of inventors

Brentwood, MO, United States of America

Abraham Naroll Gissen