Deformable aerodynamic profile

• US 7,717,373 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Jaenker, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/544,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,296 Days
• Field of Search: 244218-219, 244/46
• US Class Current: 244/218
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/7283 of the piezoelectric type
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/001 Vibration damping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/615 including flaps mounted on blades
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/48 by relatively-movable parts of wing structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/30 Wing lift efficiency

Abstract

A deformable aerodynamic profiled member has a front profile area and a rear profile area in the outflow area. It is bounded by shells on the pressure side and/or on the suction side, converging in a rear profile edge (6). D33 piezo actuators are provided in at least some locations for deformation of the profiled member. The piezo actuators are aligned such that their length changes essentially in the direction of the planes of the shells when acted upon by electricity.

Claims

1. A deformable aerodynamic profiled member comprising:

a front profile area;

a rear profile area;

shells which bound the profiled member on a pressure side and on a suction side, which shells converge in a rear profile edge; and

deforming means for varying a curvature of said profiled member by changing length of at least one of said shells in a desired direction;

wherein,

said deforming means comprises at least one d33 piezo actuator mounted on said at least one shell; and

said at least one piezo actuator is arranged on said at least one shell with an orientation such that a change of length of said at least one piezo actuator cause a change of length in a plane of said at least one shell in said desired direction, and a corresponding deformation of said profile, when said at least one actuator is acted upon by electricity.

2. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 1, wherein the d33 piezo actuators are arranged on at least one of the pressure side and the suction side.

3. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 1, wherein the d33 piezo actuators are integrated into at least one of the shells, on at least one of the pressure side and the suction side.

4. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 3, wherein the at least one shell has a composite structure.

5. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic profile is one of a helicopter rotor blade, an aircraft wing, a turbine blade or the like.

6. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 1, wherein:

the piezo actuator comprises alternating lamina of d33 piezoelectric material and electrically conducting material, arranged in a stacking direction; and

the piezo actuators are oriented relative to said profiled member with the stacking direction coinciding substantially with a desired expansion direction of said profiled member.

7. The deformable profiled member according to claim 1, wherein said piezo actuators comprise stack-form piezoelectric elements cut lengthwise, in a plane parallel to said expansion.

8. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 1, wherein each of the d33 piezo actuators comprises a stack of alternating layers of piezoelectric materials and electrode layers formed of an electrically conducting material.

9. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 8, wherein an electric field for inducing the d33 effect is supplied via the electrode layers.

10. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 8, wherein the laminar d33 piezo actuators have a thickness of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 mm.

11. The deformable aerodynamic profiled member according to claim 10, wherein the laminar d33 piezo actuators have side edge dimensions of approximately 5 to 60 mm.