Remotely controlled and thermally managed system for actuation of components in a wind tunnel model

US9677968B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Robert C. Griffiths · Seattle, US
• James H. Mabe · Seattle, US
• Stefan R. Bieniawski · Seattle, US
• Frederick T. Calkins · Renton, US
• Jonathan K. Brown · Renton, US
• Ordie Dean Butterfield · Bonney Lake, US
• Frank Bruce Irvine · Chicago, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2017
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M9/04
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Within examples, remotely controlled and thermally managed systems for actuation of components in a wind tunnel model are described. A wind tunnel test environment may provide ambient to cryogenic temperature conditions to reproduce aerodynamic flight Reynolds number conditions. Example systems comprise a modular test assembly mounted on a test component, and the test component includes at least one movable surface and is configured for placement in the wind tunnel. An actuator is included within the modular test assembly and coupled to the at least one movable surface of the test component, and a temperature sensor is included to provide temperature of an exterior of the modular test assembly. In addition, a controller is in communication with the actuator and the temperature sensor, and is configured to remotely cause the actuator to move the at least one movable surface through a range of motion.