Abstract: A shock and vibration isolation system for an article comprising a set of elastomers circumferentially positioned in a shear mode around a member carried by the article to simultaneously support the article and to isolate the article from shock and vibration by dissipation of energy through an internal shear action within the set of elastomers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 2001
Date of Patent:
December 30, 2003
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Inventors:
Robert Dennis Guion, David Roy Wagner, Denis Allen LaCroix
Abstract: A pliant, controllable contour control surface comprising a first flexible facesheet formed to a first initial contour of the control surface, and a second flexible facesheet formed to a second initial contour of the control surface. The first and second facesheets each have a set of prestrained shape memory alloy tendons embedded therein, extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the control surface. Each set of the shape memory alloy tendons is separately connected to a controlled source of electrical current such that tendons of the first and second flexible facesheets can be selectively heated in an antagonistic, slack-free relationship, to bring about a desired modification of the configuration of the control surface. A computer based control system is utilized for maintaining a constant temperature of the antagonists to establish conditions conducive to the stress induced transformation from austenite to martensite, accomplished by causing constant current to flow through the antagonists.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 1995
Date of Patent:
September 2, 1997
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Inventors:
Brian J. Maclean, Bernard F. Carpenter, Mohan S. Misra