Douglas B Nicholson

US Patent:

20220340265, Oct 27, 2022

Filed:

Jan 21, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/580934

Inventors:

- Chicago IL, US
Paul M. Vijgen - Everett WA, US
Douglas E. Nicholson - Saint Charles MO, US
Andrew Walter Fassman - Snohomish WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B64C 23/06
B64D 41/00

Abstract:

A vortex generator, includes a vane, mountable on an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft, and an actuator that rotates the vane between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator includes a linear actuator, composed at least in part of a shape memory alloy (SMA), that when thermally activated facilitates rotation of the vane between the stowed position to the deployed position. Thermal activation of the SMA is caused via one or more of joule heating, conduction, and induction in response to one or more of an electronic command signal and a wireless command signal. The electronic command signal and the wireless command signal may be transmitted in response to ambient conditions, aircraft flight conditions, and aircraft mission.