Actuation concepts for variable stiffness materials

US7901524B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• HRL Laboratories, LLC · US

Inventors

• Geoffrey P. McKnight · Los Angeles, US
• Bill Barvosa-Carter · Ventura, US
• Chris Henry · Phoenix, US
• Andrew C. Keefe · Calabasas, US
• Richard Stewart Ross · Los Angeles, US
• Guillermo A. Herrera · Calabasas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 3, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 8, 2011
• Expiry date: Jan 21, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S72/70
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods for actuating variable stiffness material (VSM) structures and achieving deformation of the structures. The apparatus and the associated methods use internal embedded actuation elements and/or externally attached elements to the VSM structures to achieve the desired deformation. In particular, the actuation can be changed due to the variable stiffness nature of the materials. That is, the invention provides the ability to control the deformation of structures using local stiffness control over subregions of the component in addition to or in substitution for actuation. Furthermore, the invention exploits the variable stiffness properties of the VSM structures to enable new functionalities impossible to realize with conventional constant stiffness materials.