Composite material suitable for a morphing skin
US10479478B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2013 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/40
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A morphing skin for an air vehicle structure, the skin being formed by a composite material which includes: a multiplicity of fibers, a matrix incorporating the fibers, and a thermo-sensitive material, such as a thermo-plastic. The thermo-sensitive material can be reversibly transitionable in response to a change in temperature, between (i) an ambient temperature mode in which the thermo-sensitive material is capable of transferring loads in the composite material, and (ii) a heated mode in which the ability of the thermo-sensitive material to transfer the loads is reduced. This can allow the stiffness of the skin to be temporarily reduced to enable the skin to be morphed into a different shape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.