Patent ID: 7305893

Claim:
An actuator for displacing a fluid to alter flow characteristics near a surface, the actuator comprising: a pivot; a plurality of vanes, each vane of the plurality of vanes extending outwardly from the pivot, the plurality of vanes being substantially in balance with respect to the pivot, the plurality of vanes being configured to displace the fluid, a first vane of the plurality of vanes having a first face and a second face; a casing configured to at least partially surround the plurality of vanes; a plurality of walls extending inwardly from the casing towards the pivot, a first wall of the plurality of walls facing the first face, a second wall of the plurality of walls facing the second face; a first orifice that opens into the casing between the first wall and the first face; and a second orifice that opens into the casing between the second wall and the second face, wherein the fluid is expelled from the first orifice and drawn into the second orifice in response to the first vane moving toward the first wall, and the fluid is drawn into the first orifice and expelled from the second orifice in response to the first vane moving toward the second wall.