The Boeing Company

Jonathan Kenji Brown

Glenn Scott Bushnell

Frederick Theodore Calkins

Dan John Clingman

James Henry Mabe

Ordie Dean Butterfield

Jeffrey H Hunt

David Arthur Whelan

Stefan Richard Bieniawski

Bentley Edwin Northon

Stephen A Walls

Robert Roland Keever

Grant Joseph Atkinson

Robert Griffiths

Jacklyn Ann Holmes

Frank Bruce Irvine

A method and apparatus for shaping fuselage sections. A first fuselage section is held in a holding structure in a cradle in a cradle system. Force are applied to the first fuselage section with an actuator system to a portion of the first fuselage section such that a first current shape of the first fuselage section changes towards a first desired shape for the first fuselage section to join the first the fuselage section to a second fuselage section.

Cradle system for shaping fuselage sections

There is provided a training system capable of performing work. The system has a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator exhibiting a generally planar transformational behavior. The system further has one or more heating elements for transforming the SMA actuator from an original shape to a trained shape, thereby performing work.

Systems for shape memory alloy structures

A scalable multi-element shape memory alloy (SMA) rotary motor employs a plurality of SMA tubes. A ratcheting gear transmission couples the plurality of SMA tubes in parallel to a common output. A controller provides power to a plurality of heaters associated with each of the plurality of SMA tubes, sequentially heating selected heaters to provide continuous rotational motion of the common output.

Scalable multi-element shape memory alloy rotary motor

Apparatus that use Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) materials. An exemplary apparatus includes an SMA member that transforms between a first shape and a second shape based on temperature. The apparatus also includes a coil spring that encompasses the SMA member. The coil spring conducts current from a power source to generate a magnetic field that induces heat in the SMA member. The coil spring also stores mechanical energy as the SMA member transforms from the first shape to the second shape when heated to a transition temperature, and exerts force on the SMA member from the mechanical energy to assist the SMA member in transforming from the second shape to the first shape when cooling below the transition temperature.

Integrated spring and induction coil for shape-memory alloy (SMA) apparatus

Within examples, remotely controlled and thermally managed systems for actuation of components in a wind tunnel model are described. A wind tunnel test environment may provide ambient to cryogenic temperature conditions to reproduce aerodynamic flight Reynolds number conditions. Example systems comprise a modular test assembly mounted on a test component, and the test component includes at least one movable surface and is configured for placement in the wind tunnel. An actuator is included within the modular test assembly and coupled to the at least one movable surface of the test component, and a temperature sensor is included to provide temperature of an exterior of the modular test assembly. In addition, a controller is in communication with the actuator and the temperature sensor, and is configured to remotely cause the actuator to move the at least one movable surface through a range of motion.

Remotely controlled and thermally managed system for actuation of components in a wind tunnel model

There is provided a method of training a shape memory alloy (SMA) workpiece. The method includes applying a force couple to a shape memory alloy (SMA) workpiece to impart a generally planar transformational behavior to the SMA workpiece to obtain a trained shape memory alloy (SMA) workpiece.

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Renton, WA, United States of America

Jonathan Kenji Brown