Thermally activated variable stiffness composites for aircraft seals

US9321521B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Christopher P. Henry · Thousand Oaks, US
• Geoffrey P. McKnight · Los Angeles, US
• Guillermo A. Herrera · Calabasas, US
• Robert E. Doty · Los Angeles, US
• Richard Lee Clemons · Los Angeles, US
• Donald V. Drouin, Jr. · O'Fallon, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 10, 2013
• Grant date: Apr 26, 2016
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/10
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus has a first structure, a second structure, and an activated seal. The second structure has a first position adjacent to the first structure such that the first structure is not in contact with the second structure. The activated seal is attached to at least one of the first structure and the second structure. The activated seal has a variable stiffness that may be changed in response to a stimuli such that the activated seal is capable of being deformed when at least one of the first structure and the second structure are moved relative to each other.