Airfoil member with a piezoelectrically actuated servo-flap
US6231013A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/30
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An airfoil member, especially a rotor blade for a helicopter, includes an airfoil body and a servo-actuated flap tiltably connected to the airfoil body so as to form at least a portion of the trailing edge of the airfoil member. At least one piezoelectric actuator is arranged inside the airfoil member, and connected to the servo-flap via a transmission mechanism and a connecting rod linkage so as to tiltingly deflect the servo-flap as needed. Preferably, two counter-acting piezoelectric actuators are connected to the flap via respective transmission mechanisms and connecting rod linkages. An elongation of the piezoelectric actuators in the span width direction of the airfoil member is converted or redirected into an actuating motion in the chord length direction of the airfoil member by the transmission mechanisms. Orienting the actuators to have an elongation motion in the span width direction prevents the high centrifugal accelerations arising in the rotor blade from having negative influences on the operation of the actuators.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.