Patent ID: 6131853
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B64C,F42B,Y02T

Abstract:
An aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag producing device comprising a significant portion of the exterior surface of a vehicle moving through a gas or liquid;said aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag producing device comprising a plurality of very small surfaces distributed on the vehicle exterior surface,said plurality of small surfaces are symmetrically distributed about the vehicles principle longitudinal axis,said very small surfaces are arranged in approximately equally spaced rows in the streamwise direction,each of said very small surfaces are aligned approximately perpendicular to the local surface flow direction,each of said very small surfaces extends outward from the exterior surface of the said vehicle a distance equal to the distance of order of the local boundary layer thickness of the said vehicle,each of said very small surfaces may be of arbitrary cross section shape,each of said very small surfaces has a width equivalent to the height said very small surface extends outward from the exterior surface of the said vehicle,each of said surface has a length equal to or greater than the height the said very small surface extends outward from the exterior surface of the said vehicle,each of said very small surfaces may be rapidly deployed to a drag producing position,each of said very small surfaces may be rapidly stowed to a non-drag producing position,quick-acting actuating mechanisms operatively associated with each said very small surfaces for rapidly deploying and rapidly stowing each of said very small surfaces,means for energizing said actuating mechanisms in response to a signal indicating the desire for braking of said vehicle to symmetrically deploy said very small surfaces when braking is desired and to stow the said very small surfaces when braking is not desired,means for energizing a limited number of said actuating mechanisms in response to a signal indicating the desire for turning of said vehicle to asymmetrically deploy selected said very small surfaces when turning is desired and to stow the selected said very small surfaces when braking is not desired.