The Boeing Company

Douglas E Nicholson

James Henry Mabe

Micheal A Bass

Frederick Theodore Calkins

Jordan Kreitzman

Paul M Vijgen

Abraham Naroll Gissen

Andrew Walter Fassmann

Variable-porosity panel systems and associated methods. A variable-porosity panel system includes a panel assembly with an exterior layer defining a plurality of exterior layer pores and a sliding layer adjacent to the exterior layer and defining a plurality of sliding layer pores. The variable-porosity panel system additionally includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator configured to translate the sliding layer relative to the exterior layer to modulate a porosity of the panel assembly. The SMA actuator includes an SMA element configured to exert an actuation force on the sliding layer and at least partially received within an SMA element receiver of the sliding layer. The SMA element extends out of the sliding layer only at a sliding layer first end. A method of operating the variable-porosity panel system includes assembling the variable-porosity panel system and/or transitioning the panel assembly of the variable-porosity panel system among the plurality of panel configurations.

Variable-porosity panel systems and associated methods

A vortex generator, includes a vane, mountable on an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft, and an actuator that rotates the vane between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator includes a linear actuator, composed at least in part of a shape memory alloy (SMA), that when thermally activated facilitates rotation of the vane between the stowed position to the deployed position. Thermal activation of the SMA is caused via one or more of joule heating, conduction, and induction in response to one or more of an electronic command signal and a wireless command signal. The electronic command signal and the wireless command signal may be transmitted in response to ambient conditions, aircraft flight conditions, and aircraft mission.

Vortex generator

Variably porous panels and panel assemblies incorporating shape memory alloy components along with methods for actuating the shape memory alloys are disclosed to predictably alter the porosity of a substrate surface, with the shape memory alloy maintained in an orientation relative to the panel that is in-plane with a mold-line of the panel outer surface.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for in-line variably porous surfaces

Rotary actuator assemblies and associated methods are disclosed. The rotary actuator assemblies include a rotary actuator, a rotary element, and a magnetic element. The rotary actuator is configured to generate a torque. The rotary element is coupled to the rotary actuator and is configured to rotate responsive to receipt of the torque. The magnetic element is configured to bias the rotary element in a rotary direction. The methods include rotating a rotary element responsive to receipt of a torque from a rotary actuator and applying a supplemental torque to the rotary element with a magnetic element.

Rotary actuator assemblies and methods including the same

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

Rotary actuator assemblies, wind tunnels including the same, and associated methods are disclosed. A rotary actuator assembly includes a rotary element and a rotary actuator with a shape memory alloy element. The rotary actuator is configured to generate a first torque and a second torque in opposing rotary directions to rotate the rotary element. A rotary actuator assembly further includes an assist magnetic element and a receiver magnetic element configured to generate a magnetic force therebetween. Wind tunnels include an aerodynamic model with a rotary actuator assembly to rotate a portion of the aerodynamic model with respect to an airstream in a chamber. A method of rotating a rotary element includes modulating a temperature of a shape memory alloy element and applying a supplemental torque to the rotary element with an assist magnetic element and a receiver magnetic element.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Louis, MO, United States of America

Douglas E Nicholson