Vortex generators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309903-B2
Application number	US-201314042443-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2013
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

Vortex generators are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing including a surface. The example apparatus also includes a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing. The bimorph actuator includes a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface. A blade is rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, and the bimorph actuator is to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing including a surface;
a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing, the bimorph actuator including a first bimorph beam and a second bimorph beam spaced apart from the first bimorph beam, the first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface; and
a blade rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface, wherein the blade is disposed in a space between the first bimorph beam and the second bimorph beam when the blade is in a retracted position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tie coupled to the first bimorph beam and the second bimorph beam, deflection of the first bimorph beam and the second bimorph beam to move the tie.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an arm coupled to the tie and the blade, wherein movement of the tie is to drive the arm to rotate the blade.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a crank operatively coupled to the arm and the blade, wherein movement of the arm is to rotate the crank and the blade.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an edge of the blade is substantially flush with the surface when the blade is in the retracted position.

6. An apparatus comprising:
a housing including a surface;
a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing, the bimorph actuator including a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface, wherein the first portion is fixedly coupled to a base, and a second portion of the first bimorph beam is slidably coupled to the base; and
a blade rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the blade substantially fills a slot extending through the surface.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a blade; and
a bimorph actuator operatively coupled to the blade, the bimorph actuator including a fixed portion and a movable portion to enable deflection of the bimorph actuator to rotate the blade, the blade in a first position to define a portion of a surface, the blade in a second position to generate a vortex in a fluid adjacent the surface, wherein the movable portion of the bimorph actuator is disposed in a slot defined by a base, the slot to guide translational movement of the moveable portion of the bimorph actuator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the fixed portion of the bimorph actuator is fixedly coupled to the base.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the surface defines an aperture, the blade to be disposed in the aperture when the blade is in the first position and the second position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a shape of an edge of the blade corresponds to a shape of the surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the blade is to extend through the surface to the second position when the bimorph actuator deflects away from the surface.

13. An apparatus, comprising:
a bimorph actuator disposed in a housing defining a surface, the bimorph actuator having a first portion substantially stationary relative to the surface and a second portion slidably coupled to the surface; and
a blade operatively coupled to the bimorph actuator, deflection of the bimorph actuator to extend or retract the blade relative to the surface, an edge of the blade to be in a first orientation relative to the surface when the blade is retracted, the edge of the blade to be in a second orientation relative to the surface when the blade is deployed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the edge in the first orientation is substantially flush with the surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the edge in the second orientation is to be angled away from the surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a maximum amount of the deflection of the bimorph actuator is to occur at a middle portion of the bimorph actuator.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the blade is to rotate relative to the surface to extend or retract the blade.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clingman Dan John
• Zidovetzki Esther Shifra
• Mallari Randy Lee Macaraeg

Classifications

• B64C23/06

  by generating vortices · CPC title

• Y10T137/2087

  Means to cause rotational flow of fluid [e.g., vortex generator] · CPC title

• B64C23/005 Primary

  by other means not covered by groups B64C23/02 - B64C23/08, e.g. by electric charges, magnetic panels, piezoelectric elements, static charges or ultrasounds · CPC title

• F15D1/009 Primary

  by means of vortex rings · CPC title

• Y02T50/10

  Drag reduction · CPC title