Patents by Inventor Joel A. Hetrick

Joel A. Hetrick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170274976
    Abstract: An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: FLEXSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Sridhar Kota, Gregory F. Ervin
  • Patent number: 9676471
    Abstract: An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FLEXSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Sridhar Kota, Gregory F. Ervin
  • Publication number: 20150210376
    Abstract: An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Sridhar Kota, Gregory F. Ervin
  • Publication number: 20140306576
    Abstract: A displacement amplifier receives an actuation displacement signal from a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement signal is amplified by one or more stages of compliant elements, and a corresponding force is applied to a load. Wide frequency response is achieved in response to the resilience characteristics of the compliant elements that are formed from any of several materials, illustratively aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, composites, etc., and are produced by any of several manufacturing techniques, illustratively extrusion, die casting, forging, etc. The compliant elements can be configured as plural compliant mechanical displacement amplifier stages. In bilateral arrangements displacement signals from distal ends of the motive source are applied to symmetrical, or mirror image, arrangements of compliant elements. The motive source, which may be a piezoelectric actuator, delivers its displacement signal at one end thereof to one or more compliant elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ervin, Dragan Maric, Gregory F. Ervin, Sridhar Kota, Joel A. Hetrick
  • Patent number: 8814101
    Abstract: An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Gregory F. Ervin, Sridhar Kota
  • Publication number: 20130264427
    Abstract: An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Gregory F. Ervin, Sridhar Kota
  • Patent number: 8418966
    Abstract: An edge mo?hing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with a rib element arranged to overlie the edge of the airfoil. The rib element has first and second rib portions arranged to communicate with respectively associated ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the airfoil. A first compliant linkage element has first and second ends and is disposed between the first and second rib portions of the rib element, the first and second ends are each coupled to the interior of a respectively associated one of the first and second rib portions. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of a selectable one of the first and second rib portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Sridhar Kota, Gregory F. Ervin
  • Publication number: 20100224024
    Abstract: A displacement amplifier receives an actuation displacement signal from a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement signal is amplified by one or more stages of compliant elements, and a corresponding force is applied to a load. Wide frequency response is achieved in response to the resilience characteristics of the compliant elements that are formed from any of several materials, illustratively aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, composites, etc., and are produced by any of several manufacturing techniques, illustratively extrusion, die casting, forging, etc. The compliant elements can be configured as plural compliant mechanical displacement amplifier stages. In bilateral arrangements displacement signals from distal ends of the motive source are applied to symmetrical, or mirror image, arrangements of compliant elements. The motive source, which may be a piezoelectric actuator, delivers its displacement signal at one end thereof to one or more compliant elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: James D. Ervin, Dragan Maric, Gregory F. Ervin, Sridhar Kota, Joel A. Hetrick
  • Patent number: 7779728
    Abstract: An arrangement for orienting a device angularly is provided with a back element on which the device to be oriented is installed. A ball and a spherical gear are arranged concentrically. A base portion has a socket that engages with the ball. Also, a motor having a rotatory shaft is installed on the base portion, and a worm drive element is coupled to the rotatory shaft and arranged to engage the spherical gear when the ball and socket are engaged, whereby the spherical gear is urged along the longitudinal axis of the tapered worm drive element and the tapered worm drive element slides along the gear teeth of the spherical gear. The motor enhances the rigidity of the base portion. The worm drive element and the spherical gear disengage in response to the application of a force through the first spherical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Gregory F. Ervin
  • Publication number: 20090302168
    Abstract: An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with a rib element arranged to overlie the edge of the airfoil. The rib element has first and second rib portions arranged to communicate with respectively associated ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the airfoil. A first compliant linkage element has first and second ends and is disposed between the first and second rib portions of the rib element, the first and second ends are each coupled to the interior of a respectively associated one of the first and second rib portions. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of a selectable one of the first and second rib portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Joel A. Hetrick, Sridhar Kota, Gregory F. Ervin
  • Patent number: 7384016
    Abstract: Variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces is produced by a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element (120) having a corresponding first outer surface (122) and a first inner surface (124), and a second resiliently variable frame element (130) having a corresponding second outer surface (132) and a second inner surface (134). The first and second outer surfaces (122, 132) communicate with respective ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. A linkage element (141-144) having a predetermined resilience characteristic is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface (124) and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface (134). A frame coupler (151) couples the first resiliently variable frame element (120) to a support element (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: FlexSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Kota, Joel A. Hetrick
  • Patent number: 6594994
    Abstract: Micromechanical actuation apparatus includes a substrate with an actuator mounted on the substrate and a micro-transmission mounted on the substrate coupled to the electrothermal actuator. The actuator, such as an electrothermal actuator, is responsive to electrical power to drive two output beams inwardly or outwardly in opposite directions. The micro-transmission couples the force from the two output beams and transmits the displacement of the output beams to an output node of the micro-transmission. The amplification of the micro-transmission provides a much larger displacement of a beam connected to the output node than the displacement of the output beams of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Yogesh B. Gianchandani, Joel A. Hetrick, Larry Li-Yang Chu
  • Publication number: 20030024243
    Abstract: Micromechanical actuation apparatus includes a substrate with an actuator mounted on the substrate and a micro-transmission mounted on the substrate coupled to the electrothermal actuator. The actuator, such as an electrothermal actuator, is responsive to electrical power to drive two output beams inwardly or outwardly in opposite directions. The micro-transmission couples the force from the two output beams and transmits the displacement of the output beams to an output node of the micro-transmission. The amplification of the micro-transmission provides a much larger displacement of a beam connected to the output node than the displacement of the output beams of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Yogesh B. Gianchandani, Joel A. Hetrick, Larry Li-Yang Chu
  • Patent number: 6175170
    Abstract: A pivotless compliant structure is disclosed that can be used to increase the geometric advantage or mechanical advantage of a microelectromechanical (MEM) actuator such as an electrostatic comb actuator, a capacitive-plate electrostatic actuator, or a thermal actuator. The compliant structure, based on a combination of interconnected flexible beams and cross-beams formed of one or more layers of polysilicon or silicon nitride, can provide a geometric advantage of from about 5:1 to about 60:1 to multiply a 0.25-3 &mgr;m displacement provided by a short-stroke actuator so that such an actuator can be used to generate a displacement stroke of about 10-34 &mgr;m to operate a ratchet-driven MEM device or a microengine. The compliant structure has less play than conventional displacement-multiplying devices based on lever arms and pivoting joints, and is expected to be more reliable than such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventors: Sridhar Kota, M. Steven Rodgers, Joel A. Hetrick