US5367970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controllable camber fin
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1993-09-27
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2013-09-27
Abstract
Abstract In a fluid such as water the direction of a vessel is controlled by a fin ving at least one fixed chordwise segment and at least one cantilever mounted movable segment secured to the fixed segment by a backbone or spine spring at the neutral axis, and by differently tensioned control wires that are used to achieve camber variations under the influence of the vessel's control system. An elastomeric skin is supported on stiffeners to maintain the general fin cross section during such camber changes.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Beauchamp
- 👤 Laurence M. Dean
- 👤 Anthony V. Raffa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:51
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C3/00; B64C3/38; B64C3/44; B64C3/48; B63; B63B; B63B39/00; B63B39/06; B63H; B63H25/00; B63H25/06; B63H25/38; B63H25/381; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
A variable camber fin for use in a moving fluid to influence that fluid's flow over the fin, said fin comprising: a closed foil cross section designed to minimize the drag forces on the fin at certain design equilibrium conditions; said foil fin having a cross section that includes at least one fixed foil portion adapted to be secured to other structure; said foil fin cross section also including at least another foil portion that is connected to said one fixed foil portion such that the said one and another portions cooperate to define a chordwise segment of said closed foil cross section; said another foil portion having the structure of a cantilevered beam with a neutral axis generally oriented in said chordwise direction, and a resilient structural element oriented at said neutral axis; said resilient structural element having a root end secured to said one fixed foil portion and said resilient structural element having a free end spaced in said chordwise direction from said root end thereof; said cantilevered beam foil portion having internally mounted control wires some of which are provided on one side of said resilient structural element and other control wires provided on the opposite side of said resilient structural element, said control wires having free ends, said free ends secured to said free end of said resilient structural element, said control wires having root ends secured to said fixed foil portion in spaced relation to said resilient structural element root end; and means for differentially stressing some of said control wires relative said other control wires to bend said resilient structural element and thereby to change the camber of the fin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
A variable camber fin for use in a moving fluid to influence that fluid's flow over the fin, said fin comprising: a closed foil cross section designed to minimize the drag forces on the fin at certain design equilibrium conditions; said foil fin having a cross section that includes at least one fixed foil portion adapted to be secured to other structure; said foil fin cross section also including at least another foil portion that is connected to said one fixed foil portion such that the said one and another portions cooperate to define a chordwise segment of said closed foil cross section; said another foil portion having the structure of a cantilevered beam with a neutral axis generally oriented in said chordwise direction, and a resilient structural element oriented at said neutral axis; said resilient structural element having a root end secured to said one fixed foil portion and said resilient structural element having a free end spaced in said chordwise direction from said root end thereof; said cantilevered beam foil portion having internally mounted control wires some of which are provided on one side of said resilient structural element and other control wires provided on the opposite side of said resilient structural element, said control wires having free ends, said free ends secured to said free end of said resilient structural element, said control wires having root ends secured to said fixed foil portion in spaced relation to said resilient structural element root end; and means for differentially stressing some of said control wires relative said other control wires to bend said resilient structural element and thereby to change the camber of the fin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The variable camber fin of claim 1 further characterized by a third foil portion connected to said free end of said resilient structural element and to said free ends of said control wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The variable camber fin of claim 1 further characterized by an outer skin for said cantilevered portion of said closed foil cross section, said outer skin being of flexible elastomeric material, and internal stiffeners to maintain generally said flexible outer skin cross section as said control wires are differentially stressed to change the camber of the fin said stiffeners having openings for loosely receiving said control wires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The variable camber fin of claim 1 further characterized by a second cantilevered beam foil portion having a root end connected to said one fixed foil portion and arranged opposite said first mentioned cantilevered beam foil portion in said chordwise direction, said second cantilevered beam foil portion also having internally mounted control wires some of which are provided on one side of a second resilient structural element located on a second neutral axis associated with said second cantilevered beam foil portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The variable camber fin of claim 4 further characterized by other control wires provided on an opposite side of said second resilient structural element at said second neutral axis, and said other control wires of said second cantilevered beam foil portion having root ends, said root ends secured to said second structural element, said second structural element having a free end, and said other control wires having free ends secured to said free end of said second resilient structural element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The variable camber fin of claim 5 further characterized by an outer skin for said second cantilevered portion of said closed foil cross section, said outer skin being of flexible elastomeric material, and internal stiffeners to maintain generally and flexible outer skin cross section as said control wires are differentially stressed to change the camber of the fin, said stiffeners having openings for loosely receiving said control wires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The variable camber fin of claim 4 further characterized by leading and trailing edge foil portions connected respectively to said free ends of said first mentioned and second cantilevered resilient structural elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The variable camber fin of claim 7 further characterized by an outer skin for said second cantilevered portion of said closed foil cross section, said outer skin being of flexible elastomeric material, and internal stiffeners to maintain generally said flexible outer skin cross section as said control wires are differentially stressed to change the camber of the fin, said stiffeners having openings for loosely receiving said control wires.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |