Abstract:
A method of bonding materials may comprise defining a bond interface between two materials in a cure zone on a surface of an object, and non-conductively heating the bond interface without directly heating the surface outside of the cure zone. Non-conductively heating the bond interface may involve applying microwave radiation to the bond interface.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for managing heating of a window system. The apparatus comprises a dimmable window panel and a heating system. The dimmable window panel has an inner portion and an outer portion around the inner portion. The heating system is thermally connected to the outer portion of the dimmable window panel.
Abstract:
A thermal barrier apparatus for a window system includes a closed curve-shaped plate having a via in a central portion of the closed curve-shaped plate. The closed curve-shaped plate includes a plurality of concentric channels formed on a first surface of the closed curve-shaped plate; a plurality of walls, each of the plurality of walls defining adjacent concentric channels of the plurality of concentric channels, each of the plurality of walls including a plurality of openings between adjacent concentric channels; an outer wall formed on an outer peripheral edge of the closed curve-shaped plate, the outer wall including a plurality of openings; and an inner wall formed on an inner peripheral edge of the closed curve-shaped plate, the inner wall including a plurality of openings. Alternatively, a thermal barrier apparatus includes a frame; a closed curve-shaped plate provided in the frame having a first thermal barrier layer provided between the frame and a second surface of the closed curve-shaped plate; a closed curve-shaped pane provided at a portion of the first surface of the closed curve-shaped plate; and a seal provided between the pane and the first surface of the closed curve-shaped plate.
Abstract:
A window system and method of attenuating light in a window system for improving usefulness and reliability of an electronic dimmable window in the window system. An automatically adjusting photochromatic material is integrated into a window pane of the window system such that the electronic dimmable window is positioned between the automatically adjusting photochromatic material in the window pane and a dust cover of the window system. The automatically adjusting photochromatic material is formulated to attenuate incoming light in a local area of the photochromatic material in response to a solar flux intensity of the incoming light in the local area being greater than or equal to a threshold intensity while areas outside the local area of the photochromatic material that are subjected to solar flux intensity less than the threshold intensity do not attenuate incoming light.
Abstract:
In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a mandrel is disclosed. The mandrel having a shape memory alloy (SMA) shell having a longitudinal axis, an interior extending along the longitudinal axis and an exterior contour, the SMA shell being configured to interface with a structure to be cured, and at least one SMA actuation member disposed within the interior and connected to the SMA shell, where the at least one SMA actuation member is configured to exert pressure against the SMA shell effecting an interface pressure between the exterior contour of the SMA shell and the structure to be cured where the exterior contour has a predetermined actuated shape that corresponds to a predetermined cured shape of the structure to be cured.
Abstract:
Manufacturing a thermoplastic composite tubular structure embedded with a first load fitting comprising the steps of braiding a first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material around a soluble, expandable mandrel. A first load fitting is positioned on the first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material. A second plurality of outer layers of thermoplastic composite material is braided around the first load fitting and the mandrel so as to form an overbraided mandrel embedded with the first load fitting. The overbraided mandrel is installed into a matched tooling assembly and heated at a specified heating profile in order to consolidate the first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material and the second plurality of outer layers of thermoplastic composite material with the first load fitting so as to form a thermoplastic composite tubular structure embedded with the first load fitting. A second load fitting may be positioned on the first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material.
Abstract:
A system for varying a camber of an airfoil may include an airfoil having an upper surface and a lower surface meeting to form a leading edge and a trailing edge, the lower surface having a first actuator including shape memory alloy sheet, a controller including a plurality of heating elements attached to the shape memory alloy sheet for selectively heating the sheet to a temperature above ambient to deform the upper and lower surfaces to morph a geometry of a camber of the airfoil thereby, a computer control connected to selectively control individual activation of the heating elements to heat the shape memory alloy sheet to a selected temperature to effect a selected deflection, and a cooling device to allow ambient air to enter the wing and exit over the actuator to resume a non-morphed state.
Abstract:
Examples are disclosed herein that relate to vehicles, composite parts, and three-dimensional (3D) textile preforms for composite parts. In one example, a 3D textile preform for a composite part comprises a flange portion and a stiffener portion extending upwardly from the flange portion. The stiffener portion comprises a first wall portion that extends from the flange portion and a second wall portion that extends from the flange portion at a location spaced from the first wall portion. A connecting portion connects the first wall portion and the second wall portion at a location spaced from the flange portion.
Abstract:
Systems and processes that integrate thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials to form an adaptive composite structure capable of changing its shape. For example, the adaptive composite structure may be designed to serve as a multifunctional adaptive wing flight control surface. Other applications for such adaptive composite structures include in variable area fan nozzles, winglets, fairings, elevators, rudders, or other aircraft components having an aerodynamic surface whose shape is preferably controllable. The material systems can be integrated by means of overbraiding (interwoven) with tows of both thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials or separate layers of each material can be consolidated (e.g., using induction heating) to make a flight control surface that does not require separate actuation.
Abstract:
A window clamp system and method are to secure a window pane to a window frame of a vehicle. The window clamp system includes a mounting bracket configured to be secured to the window frame, one or more ratchets coupled to the mounting bracket, and a spring clip configured to move in relation to the mounting bracket and the one or more ratchets. The spring clip is configured to engage a seal positioned around the window pane.