Patent ID: 6024119
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B63B,B63G,B64C,F15D,F16K,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
A flow control system, for controlling a boundary layer flow of a fluid against a body, said flow control system comprising:an elastomeric membrane having a top region, for contacting said fluid, and having a bottom region, for covering at least a portion of a hydrodynamic surface of said body;at least one membrane actuator operatively coupled to said bottom region of said at least one elastomeric membrane, for causing tangential displacement of said at least one elastomeric membrane;at least one sensor element disposed proximate said top region of said at least one elastomeric membrane, for sensing at least one boundary layer flow condition in said fluid; anda sensor feedback device, responsive to said at least one sensor element and said at least one flow condition and operatively joined to said at least one membrane actuator, for transmitting a signal to said at least one membrane actuator to control tangential displacement of said at least one elastomeric membrane in response to said at least one boundary layer flow condition sensed in said fluid.