Patent ID: 8348201

Claim:
A wing-flap assembly, comprising a flap having a plurality of flap sections arranged in succession along a transverse direction of the flap, wherein each flap section is connected to the preceding one in a limited rotatable manner with respect thereto, in such a manner that the relative rotations of the successive flap sections with respect to a first flap section are in a relation of progressive amplification with respect to the first flap section; and one or more actuator devices adapted to control the rotation of said flap sections, each actuator device comprising an extended element made of shape memory alloy and an arch-shaped framework made of elastic material, to which the extended element is fixedly connected under tension, each end of the extended element being fixed to a respective end of the arch-shaped framework, wherein the extended element extends from a first end of the arch-shaped framework to a second end of the arch-shaped framework, and wherein a controlled heating of the extended element, triggering a transformation of the crystalline phase of the shape memory alloy, is capable of causing a contraction of the extended element, and thus a contraction of said arch-shaped framework, and a cooling of the contracted extended element, triggering an inverse transformation of the crystalline phase of the shape memory alloy, allows the stretching of the arch-shaped framework due to the elastic return; wherein at least one of said one or more actuator devices on the first end of the arch-shaped framework is connected to the first of said flap sections, and on the second end of the arch-shaped framework is connectable to a wing structure.