Active Twist Hollow Beam System
First Claim
1. An active twist hollow beam system comprising:
- a hollow beam;
the beam being split along the longitudinal length of the beam;
an actuator arranged to move split surfaces of the beam in a longitudinal direction relative to each other along the length of the beam, inducing a twist in the beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for actively controlling the span-wise rotational twist of a hollow beam along its longitudinal axis, including a hollow beam structure having a leading edge and a trailing edge region, the beam being split along its length, an actuator arranged between split surfaces of the beam, the actuator adapted to move the split surfaces in a longitudinal direction relative to each other, inducing a twist in the beam. In one embodiment, the actuator is a plurality of thermal expansion material blocks alternating with mechanical compression blocks, the thermal expansion material blocks being heated to cause expansion in the spanwise longitudinal direction. Other alternative actuators include a rotary actuators such as a threaded screw, piezoelectric or magnetostrictive blocks, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator. In an embodiment, the beam is an airfoil shape.
18 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An active twist hollow beam system comprising:
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a hollow beam; the beam being split along the longitudinal length of the beam; an actuator arranged to move split surfaces of the beam in a longitudinal direction relative to each other along the length of the beam, inducing a twist in the beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25)
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16. An active twist hollow beam system comprising:
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a hollow beam; the beam being split along the longitudinal length of the beam; and a rotary actuator arranged in an interior of the beam and extending along the longitudinal direction of the beam, the rotary actuator axially fixed with respect to a first one of the split surfaces, the rotary actuator being matingly engaged with a second one of the split surfaces, wherein turning the rotary actuator moves the split surfaces of the beam in a longitudinal direction relative to each other along the length of the beam, inducing a twist in the beam. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification