Self-transforming structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101594-A1
Application number	US-201514879035-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2015
Priority date	Oct 8, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A self-transforming structure is formed from a flexible, fibrous composite having a weave pattern of fibers woven at intersecting angles, the weave pattern having a boundary and one or more axes for the fibers, and an added material coupled to the flexible, fibrous composite to form a structure, wherein the flexible, fibrous composite and the added material have different expansion or contraction rates in response to an external stimulus to cause the structure to self-transform, and wherein the added material has a grain pattern oriented relative the weave pattern of the flexible, fibrous composite. Applications of the self-transforming structures include aviation, automotive, apparel/footwear, furniture, and building materials. One particular example is for providing adaptive control of fluid flow, such as in a jet engine air inlet.

First claim

1 . A self-transforming structure comprising:
a) a flexible, fibrous composite having a boundary and fibers along one or more axes that form a weave pattern; and b) an added material having a grain pattern, the added material coupled to the flexible, fibrous composite to form a structure, wherein the flexible, fibrous composite and the added material have different expansion or contraction rates in response to an external stimulus to cause the structure to self-transform, and wherein the grain pattern of the added material is oriented relative the weave pattern of the flexible, fibrous composite, the self-transformation of the structure responsive to the external stimulus being thereby predictable.

2 . The self-transforming structure of claim 1 , wherein the flexible, fibrous composite is carbon fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber, liquid crystal polymers, and hybrids thereof.

3 . The self-transforming structure of claim 1 , wherein the weave pattern of the flexible, fibrous composite is biaxial.

4 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the grain pattern of the added material is orthogonal to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite.

5 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the grain pattern of the added material is 45° to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite.

6 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the grain of the added material is oriented at a 45° angle to a boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

7 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the grain of the added material is orthogonal to a boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

8 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the length of the boundary of the added material is shorter than the length of the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

9 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the length of the boundary of the added material is the same as the length of the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

10 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the fibers of the flexible, fibrous added material are oriented at 45° angles relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

11 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the fibers of the flexible, fibrous added material are orthogonal to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

12 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the flexible, fibrous composite is square, rectangular, round, or an arbitrary shape.

13 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein the flexible, fibrous composite is rectangular.

14 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein: a) the grain of the added material is orthogonal to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite; b) the grain of the added material is oriented at 45° relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; c) the length of the boundary of the added material is shorter than the length of the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; and d) the fibers of the flexible, fibrous composite are oriented at 45° relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

15 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein: a) the grain of the added material is orthogonal to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite; b) the grain of the added material is oriented at 45° relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; c) the length of the boundary of the added material is the same as the length of the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; and d) the fibers of the flexible, fibrous composite are oriented at 45° relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

16 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein: a) the grain of the added material is orthogonal relative to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite; b) the grain of the added material is orthogonal relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; c) the length of the boundary of the added material is shorter than the length of the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; and d) the fibers of the flexible, fibrous composite are orthogonal relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

17 . The self-transforming structure of claim 3 , wherein: a) the grain of the added material is oriented at a 45° angle relative to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite; b) the grain of the added material is orthogonal relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; c) the length of the boundary of the added material is the same length as the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; and d) the fibers of the flexible, fibrous composite are oriented at a 45° angle relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite.

18 . The self-transforming structure of claim 14 , further comprising a parallel grains of the added material on opposite sides of the flexible, fibrous composite.

19 . The self-transforming structure of claim 6 , wherein: a) the grain of the added material is orthogonal to an axis of a fiber of the flexible, fibrous composite; b) the grain of the added material is oriented at 45° relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; c) the length of the boundary of the added material is the same as the length of the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite; and d) the fibers of the flexible, fibrous composite are oriented at 45° relative to the boundary of the flexible, fibrous composite, and wherein the added material provides equal forces in two directions, thereby providing bi-stability.

20 . The self-transforming structure of claim 1 , wherein the weave pattern of the flexible, fibrous composite is triaxial.

21 - 41 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology
• Carbitex Llc

Inventors

• Tibbits Skylar J E
• Papadopoulou Athina
• Khan Junus Ali

Classifications

• Y10T428/24802

  Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] · CPC title

• B32B27/34

  comprising polyamides · CPC title

• Y10T428/24942

  including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree · CPC title

• B32B27/12

  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title

• B32B27/06

  as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08)} · CPC title