Shape Shifting Foil Leading Edge Rotation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid foils require complex mechanical systems and expensive materials to alter their shape, leading to increased weight, expense, and induced drag forces due to gaps in their contours.
Innovation Solution
A shape-shifting fluid foil design featuring a spar, axle, and skin structure where the leading edge structure rotates, causing the skin to slide and change the fluid foil's shape, reducing the need for flaps or ailerons and minimizing drag by adjusting the angle of attack and camber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional flaps, ailerons, and trim tabs are used to alter foil shape, then lift and drag characteristics can be changed, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foil employs a dynamic membrane structure that can continuously change its camber and shape in response to fluid flow conditions. The membrane is tensioned by cables or springs and can be actively controlled to adjust its curvature, allowing the foil to adapt its aerodynamic characteristics without complex mechanical assemblies like traditional flaps or ailerons
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical control systems with a more elegant cable-tensioned membrane structure. Instead of using multiple moving parts, hinges, and actuation mechanisms, the design uses tensioned cables to control the membrane's shape, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If shape memory alloy wires are used to alter foil shape, then shape changing is achieved, but expense and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of conventional materials (such as the elastic properties of the membrane and tension characteristics of cables) to achieve shape morphing. By carefully selecting materials with appropriate elastic moduli and tension characteristics, the system achieves adaptive shape changing using inexpensive, readily available materials rather than expensive shape memory alloys
3Force
If high camber and large angle of attack are used for slow fluid speed, then lift is increased, but drag force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane structure dynamically adjusts its camber based on fluid flow conditions. At low speeds, the membrane adopts a higher camber configuration to maximize lift, while at higher speeds, the membrane automatically or actively reduces its camber to minimize drag. This dynamic adaptation allows the foil to optimize its performance across a wide range of operating conditions
4Ease of manufacture
If static foil design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to different fluid speeds and densities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The foil incorporates a dynamic membrane that can change its geometric parameters (camber, thickness distribution) in response to varying fluid conditions. This allows a single foil design to effectively operate across a wide range of fluid speeds and densities, eliminating the need for multiple static foil designs or complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A shape shifting foil alters the shape of a fluid foil contour by rotating a leading edge structure. A skin that forms the fluid foil contour is at least partially attached to the leading edge structure, and is wrapped around the leading edge structure so two edges of the skin form the trailing edge of the fluid foil. The two edges forming the trailing edge slide with respect to one another, thereby permitting the skin to shift when the leading edge structure is rotated.