Cellular actuator device and methods of making and using same
First Claim
1. Cellular actuator device having a plurality of pressure-tight chambers, which are combined to a common arrangement which can be acted upon by a pressure medium and, when acted upon by the pressure medium, can be deformed in at least one work direction while changing their length, and thus being able to move two parts of a structure with respect to each other whereby the structure parts are connected to the chambers, characterized by elementary cells each comprising at least one of said plurality of pressure-tight chambers, which chambers are formed by walls mutually connected by way of joints or articulated connection points and which chambers are coupled to a matrix-like arrangement of elementary cells in a way, that, when pressurization acts upon the elementary cells, the length changes in the at least one work direction of the individual elementary cells are additively combined to an overall movement of the elementary cell arrangement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cellular actuator device suitable for a control surface of an aircraft or space craft has a number of elementary cells which are combined to a common arrangement and are formed by pressure-tight chambers. The elementary cells can be acted upon by a pressure medium and, when acted upon by the pressure medium, can be deformed in at least one work direction while changing their length. The elementary cells are coupled for combining their length changes in the at least one working direction to an overall movement of the elementary cell arrangement. The actuator device is particularly suitable for actuating a control surface of an aircraft or spacecraft.
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Citations
40 Claims
- 1. Cellular actuator device having a plurality of pressure-tight chambers, which are combined to a common arrangement which can be acted upon by a pressure medium and, when acted upon by the pressure medium, can be deformed in at least one work direction while changing their length, and thus being able to move two parts of a structure with respect to each other whereby the structure parts are connected to the chambers, characterized by elementary cells each comprising at least one of said plurality of pressure-tight chambers, which chambers are formed by walls mutually connected by way of joints or articulated connection points and which chambers are coupled to a matrix-like arrangement of elementary cells in a way, that, when pressurization acts upon the elementary cells, the length changes in the at least one work direction of the individual elementary cells are additively combined to an overall movement of the elementary cell arrangement.
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35. A cellular actuator device for a vehicle control surface, comprising:
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a plurality of variable size pressure tight chambers combined to form a common arrangement, said chambers coupled to a matrix-like arrangement of elementary cells which are coupled together to facilitate dimensional changes in the common arrangement in dependence on changes in pressure in said chambers wherein said dimensional changes include a change in length in at least one work direction of individual ones of said cells wherein said change in length are additively combined, and a fluid pressure controller for controlling pressure in said chambers. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method of making a cellular actuator device for a vehicle control surface, comprising:
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forming a plurality of pressure tight chambers having flexible chamber walls, coupling said chambers to a matrix-like arrangement of elementary cells including at least one chamber connecting said pressure tight chambers to form a common arrangement of elementary cells with pressure connection between a plurality of said pressure tight chambers such that, in use, pressure control changes a length in at least one work direction each of said cells and additively combining said changes in length to provide overall movement of said arrangement, and connecting a cover to said common arrangement, which cover in use forms at least a portion of vehicle control surface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification