Patent ID: 9120554
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: B64C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for changing a camber of an airfoil, the method comprising: activating a shape memory alloy (SMA) hinge pivotally coupling a variable camber structure to a fluid-dynamic body by applying a first temperature to the SMA hinge; pivoting the variable camber structure about a hinge axis of the SMA hinge by action of the SMA hinge in response to the first temperature, wherein the SMA hinge is a first SMA hinge, and the variable camber structure comprises a first aerodynamic structure and a second aerodynamic structure pivotally coupled to the first aerodynamic structure along a chordwise direction using a second shape memory alloy (SMA) hinge; activating the second SMA hinge to pivot the second aerodynamic structure about a hinge axis of the second SME hinge, wherein the first aerodynamic structure comprises a first fluid-dynamic surface fixed to the first aerodynamic structure, and the second aerodynamic structure comprises a second fluid-dynamic surface fixed to the second aerodynamic structure and separate from the first fluid-dynamic surface; heating the first SMA hinge to the first temperature; heating the second SMA hinge to a second temperature different from the first temperature; operating the first SMA hinge between at least two fluid-dynamic camber line positions in a repeatable manner; and operating the second SMA hinge between at least two fluid-dynamic camber line positions in a repeatable manner independent from the first SMA hinge.