The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 22, 1996
Jeffrey L Cipolla, Newport, RI (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A control fin assembly for a water vehicle includes a multiplicity of fins onnected together and grouped in an array mounted on the vehicle. A portion of the array is of a shape-memory material responsive to heat to assume selected shapes different from the shape of the array portion otherwise. The array portion is electrically conductive and adapted to increase in temperature upon application of electrical current thereto to effect the assumption of the selected shapes. The invention further relates to a control fin for a water vehicle, at least a portion of the fin being of a shape-memory material responsive to heat to assume selected shapes different from the shape of the fin otherwise, the fin portion being electrically conductive and adapted to increase in temperature upon application of electrical current thereto to effect the assumption of the selected shapes.