The Boeing Company

Casey Lyn Madsen

Daniel John Clingman

Glenn S Bushnell

Daniel J Clingman

Frederick Theodore Calkins

Ahmed A Hassan

James Henry Mabe

Glenn Scott Bushnell

Thomas Russell Smith

Garrett M Billman

Frederich Theodore Calkins

James H Mabe

A system for changing a shape a structural spar includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of adjoining structural strips axially aligned to form the structural spar. At least one of the structural strips is formed from a shape memory alloy. The system also includes a temperature control system to control a temperature of the at least one shape memory alloy strip. Heat applied to the at least one shape memory alloy strip causes the structural spar to twist or bend.

Shape memory alloy active spars for blade twist

An air vehicle includes an airfoil designed for transonic flight. The airfoil has a region of supersonic flow during transonic flight. A surface of the airfoil has upstream and downstream orifices at or within the region. The air vehicle further includes an active flow control system for controlling air vehicle motion during transonic flight by controlling flow through the orifices to alter strength and location of a shock wave in the region. The system creates an aerodynamic imbalance to move the shock wave.

Active flow control for transonic flight

A Marman clamp is disclosed. The Marman clamp includes a release mechanism with either pins or tubes formed with a shape memory alloy. The release mechanism opens and closes the clamp depending on the temperature of the pins or tubes. The temperature of the pins or tubes may be based on whether a space vehicle including the clamp is in a direct line of sight of radiation from the sun. Alternatively, a heat source may control the temperature of the pins or tubes. The Marman clamp may also open and close as a result of an independent force applied to the release mechanism.

Marman clamp with a shape memory alloy actuator

A system for connecting two relatively movable structures on an aircraft, comprising: a first rigid structure attached to one of the relatively movable rigid structures; a second rigid structure attached to another of the relatively movable structures; a flexible skin connected to the first and second rigid structures; a sleeve comprising first and second end portions; a first rod comprising a first end portion attached to the first rigid structure, a second end portion slidably coupled to the first end portion of the sleeve, and an intermediate portion made of shape memory alloy; a second rod comprising a first end portion attached to the second rigid structure, a second end portion slidably coupled to the second end portion of the sleeve, and an intermediate portion made of shape memory alloy; and means for heating at least the intermediate portions of the first and second rods.

Shape memory alloy rods for actuation of continuous surfaces

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for shape memory alloy weapon fairings. The shape memory alloy weapon fairings are formed from a shape memory alloy and are configured to change shape in response to temperature changes. At a first temperature, the shape memory alloy weapon fairing has a first shape and at a second temperature, the shape memory alloy has a second shape. Upon deployment of a weapon including the shape memory alloy weapon fairing, the shape memory alloy weapon fairing is heated by the weapon and/or air friction. The shape memory alloy weapon fairing changes shape in response to the temperature change and provides a fairing for one or more structures of the weapon. In some implementations, the fairing covers a protuberance or other connection mechanism of the weapon.

Growing community of inventors

Normandy Park, WA, United States of America

Casey Lyn Madsen