Abstract:
A reinforced inflatable wing improves the tolerance of the OML and reinforces the wing in at least the high load areas. This approach provides fitment constrained air vehicles with wings having increased surface area to improve flight endurance or aerodynamic control. A wing box (20,108, 208, 308, 400) forms a first portion of the wing. A skin having a plurality of rigid plates (40,122, 222, 322, 406) affixed thereto is inflated to form a second portion of the wing to either increase the chord length or lengthen the wing span. The skin is suitably inflated with foam to form a solid wing.
Abstract:
A kinetic anti-projectile vehicle includes a body, and extendible arms that extend radially from the body. The arms include a foam material, such as a shape memory foam. The foam material may be heated to expand it. The foam arms may be mechanically restrained while being heated. The mechanically restraint may be removed by heating, for example including a fusible link or a shape memory sold material. The foam material arms may include solid material, either in the form of solid material particles, such as high strength particles, or in the form of supports or restraints in the foam material. The extension of the foam arms increases the effective area of the vehicle for impacting a projectile. Impact on the projectile from the body and/or one or more of the arms may be sufficient to destroy, divert, or otherwise disable the projectile.
Abstract:
A shape-changing structure (10) has a superelastic metal foam structural member (12) that changes shape (morphs) to change configuration of the structure. The superelastic metal foam structural member changes shape while maintaining a continuous outer surface, with the continuous metal foam material (14) inside the outer surface (16) expanding, contracting, or otherwise changing shape. The superelastic metal foam material may be heated above a transition temperature to allow it to change shape, and then cooled to cause it to increase in strength, more easily maintaining its new shape. The superelastic metal foam material may be a suitable alloy, for example a nickel titanium alloy, that exhibits superelastic (pseudoelastic) behavior. The superelastic metal foam material may be a shape memory alloy material that returns to a set shape upon moderate heating. The superelastic metal elastic foam structural member may be heated either by an internal heat source or by external heating.
Abstract:
A shape-changing structural member has a shape-changing material, such as a suitable foam material, for example a polymer foam capable of withstanding at least 300% strain or a metal alloy foam capable of withstanding at least 5% strain. Springs, such as one or more coil springs, provide structural support for the shape-changing material. The springs may also be used to provide forces to expand and contract the shape change material. The springs may include pairs of concentric springs, one inside of another. The concentric springs may surround an underlying skeleton structure that supports the shape-changing material and/or aids in changing the shape of the material. The concentric springs may or may not be wrapped around the underlying skeleton structure. Multiple springs or pairs of springs may be coupled together using a sheet metal connector.
Abstract:
Un ala para la despliegue a partir de un fuselaje, que comprende: un fuselaje (20, 108, 208, 308, 400) que tiene la forma y línea del molde exterior OML para formar una primera porción (24, 110, 210, 310) del ala que se extiende a partir de una raíz de una ala (28, 114, 214, 314) unido al fuselaje (106, 206, 306, 402) a lo largo de por lo menos de una porción de la envergadura del ala y que se extiende a popa a lo largo de por lo menos una porción de la longitud del cordón del ala; y una piel (30, 116, 216, 316, 404) unida al cajón del ala. Dicha estructura tiene una forma y OML de una segunda porción (34, 118, 218, 318) del ala; caracterizado en que también incluye un conjunto de placas (40, 122, 222, 322, 406) que cuando están ensambladas tienen la forma y OML de por lo menos una sub-porción (42) de la segunda porción del ala, dichas placas están fijadas a las ubicaciones correspondientes en dicha piel, dicha piel y placas están plegadas y almacenadas en un volumen limitado con el cajón del ala; y un mecanismo de inflado (50, 124, 224, 324) en la caja del ala configurado para inflar la estructura para formar la segunda porción del ala y así ensamblar las placas para reforzar dicha sup-porción del ala.
Abstract:
A shape-changing structural member (12) has a shape-changing material (14), such as a suitable foam material, for example a polymer foam capable of withstanding at least 300% strain or a metal alloy foam capable of withstanding at least 5% strain. Springs, such as one or more coil springs (40, 42), provide structural support for the shape-changing material. The springs may also be used to provide forces to expand and contract the shape change material. The springs may include pairs of concentric springs, one inside of another. The concentric springs may surround an underlying skeleton structure that supports the shape-changing material and/or aids in changing the shape of the material. The concentric springs may or may not be wrapped around the underlying skeleton structure. Multiple springs or pairs of springs may be coupled together using a sheet metal connector.
Abstract:
A shape-changing structure has a superelastic metal foam structural member that changes shape (morphs) to change configuration of the structure. The superelastic metal foam structural member changes shape while maintaining a continuous outer surface, with the continuous metal foam material inside the outer surface expanding, contracting, or otherwise changing shape. The superelastic metal foam material may be heated above a transition temperature to allow it to change shape, and then cooled to cause it to increase in strength, more easily maintaining its new shape. The superelastic metal foam material may be a suitable alloy, for example a nickel titanium alloy, that exhibits superelastic (pseudoelastic) behavior. The superelastic metal foam material may be a shape memory alloy material that returns to a set shape upon moderate heating. The superelastic metal elastic foam structural member may be heated either by an internal heat source or by external heating.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for systems having deployable elements according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a system including a deployable surface and an adaptive actuator including a polymer foam. In one embodiment, the system comprises a vehicle including a deployable wing comprising an exterior surface. The exterior surface may be adjusted by adjusting the shape, size, position, and/or orientation of the adaptive actuator.