Abstract: A torsion lock may include a clutch, a spring, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) member. The spring may cause the application of pressure on the clutch for engagement thereof. The SMA member may linearly contract when heated in a manner to relieve the pressure on the clutch for disengagement thereof.

Abstract: A torsion lock may include a clutch, a spring, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) member. The spring may cause the application of pressure on the clutch for engagement thereof. The SMA member may linearly contract when heated in a manner to relieve the pressure on the clutch for disengagement thereof.

Abstract: An aircraft aeroelasticity measurement system according to the invention can be used to perform in-flight wing twist measurements of an aircraft or any moving vehicle or structure on which its sensors can be mounted. The system includes a centralized processing unit, a reference navigation unit mounted in the aircraft body, a plurality of measurement navigation units mounted in the aircraft wings, and a global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver that generates GPS data for enhancing the accuracy of the navigation data. The system collects navigation data from the reference navigation unit and the measurement navigation units, generates navigation solutions from the navigation data, and performs a stochastic alignment and flexure estimation procedure to generate a corrected measurement solution that indicates the aeroelasticity of the aircraft. Wing twist and wing deflection information can be derived from the corrected measurement solution.

Abstract: The present invention presents a system for a compound actuator. The system includes first and second electrode layers each including two electrode sections, an intermediate electrode layer between the first and second electrode layers, and first and second electrostrictive materials that change length in an applied electrical field. The first electrostrictive material is positioned between the first and intermediate electrode layers. The second electrostrictive material is positioned between the intermediate and second electrode layers. The first electrostrictive material has a first length adjoining the first electrode section and a second length adjoining the second electrode section. The second electrostrictive material has a third length adjoining the fourth electrode section and a fourth length adjoining the fifth electrode section.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive motor especially well adapted for use with flow control systems on commercial aircraft, military aircraft and spacecraft. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure that supports a piezoelectric beam. A biasing element, for example a coil spring, is coupled between a free end of the piezoelectric beam and the support structure. The spring exerts a compressive force on the beam and serves to amplify its displacement when electric signals applied to piezoelectric layers on the beam cause deflection of the beam between two stable positions. The drive motor operates over a wider band of drive frequencies than conventional piezoelectric beams and is also suitable for use as a sensor and in a wide variety of actuator applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in low frequency vibration energy harvesting (VEH) and with actuators requiring a low deflection force. The apparatus includes a piezo flexure that is loaded with a compressive pre-load force to place the piezo flexure under compression. The piezo flexure may be supported at an intermediate point or at one end thereof. The compressive pre-load force produces flexes the piezo flexure into one or the other of two stable positions, these positions being offset on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline representing the position of the piezo flexure that would be produced without the compressive pre-load force applied thereto. The compressive pre-load effectively provides a negative spring constant which “softens” the piezo flexure and enhances a responsiveness of the piezo flexure to low frequency vibration energy. The piezo flexure also operates over a much wider frequency bandwidth than conventional systems incorporating a tip mass.

Abstract: An impedance tuning system, especially for a cellular telephone system. The system can be used to match the impedance of an antenna element with that of an output stage of a transmitter driving the antenna element. The system includes a piezo capacitor in parallel with the magnetostrictive inductor to form an LC circuit. A voltage controller applies a voltage bias signal to the piezo capacitor and a current controller applies a current bias signal to the inductor. A primary controller monitors the frequency of the output signal from the transmitter and controls the voltage and current controllers as needed to alter the impedance of the system as needed to match the impedance of the antenna element with that of the output stage of the transmitter. In an alternative form an ultrasonic sensor is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a torque to an external member to assist in twisting or deforming the external member. In one implementation the apparatus is useful for providing a force to a torque tube to assist in rotating, bending or twisting a wing, an airfoil, or a rotorcraft blade. The apparatus includes at least one biasing member which provides a biasing force to a linkage assembly, where the linkage assembly is pivotally coupled to a torque tube. The torque tube is fixedly coupled to the structure which needs to be bent, twisted or flexed. The energy stored in the biasing member provides the great majority of mechanical force required to rotate the torque tube and bend, twist or deform the structure when the structure is urged back into an unflexed or un-deformed state, the energy stored in the structure is transferred back to the apparatus.