Compliant structure design for varying surface contours

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An edge morphing arrangement for an elongated airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces, the elongated airfoil edge morphing arrangement comprising:
 a first surface element being elongated and having a continuous internal structure extending in a span-wise direction of the airfoil;   a second surface element being elongated and having a continuous internal structure extending in a span-wise direction of the airfoil;   wherein the first and second surface elements each define interior surfaces, wherein the interior surfaces of the first and second surface elements face each other.   wherein the first and second surface elements are arranged to contact and form extensions of respectively associated ones of the upper and lower control surfaces;   wherein the first and second surfaces elements are formed of a deformable compliant material;   wherein the first and second surface elements extend cross-sectionally from the associated ones of the upper and lower control surfaces to an apex defined by the first and second surface elements;   wherein the first and second surface elements have a span-wise length that is greater than a maximum height between the first and second surface elements; and   an actuator coupled to the interior surface of one of the first or second surface elements.   
     
     
         2 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is connected to the interior surface at an intermediate location on the interior surface between a front and rear edge of the one of the first or second surface elements. 
     
     
         3 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the apex defines a trailing edge of the elongated airfoil. 
     
     
         4 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the apex defines a leading edge of the elongated airfoil. 
     
     
         5 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface element is an upper surface element and the second surface element is a lower surface element. 
     
     
         6 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the actuation linkage is coupled to the lower surface element. 
     
     
         7 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the upper surface element is fixedly attached to the upper control surface. 
     
     
         8 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the lower surface element is slidably coupled to the lower control surface. 
     
     
         9 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second surface elements has a monolithic structure. 
     
     
         10 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second surface elements comprises multiple plys. 
     
     
         11 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the plys are staggered to define a variable thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second surface elements comprises a variable thickness core. 
     
     
         13 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one web structure extends between the interior surfaces of the first and second surface elements and further extends in a span-wise direction. 
     
     
         14 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a drive bar associated with the actuator that applies a linear force against a wing spar of the elongated airfoil by operation of the actuator, wherein motion of the drive bar is transmitted to the first or second surface element that is coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein in response to actuation of the actuator, the actuator applies a morphing force to the first and second surface elements to alter the shape of the edge morphing arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . An edge morphing arrangement for an elongated airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces, the edge morphing arrangement comprising:
 an elongated trailing edge portion disposed at a trailing edge of the elongated airfoil, said elongated trailing edge portion having an elongated continuous surface element having a continuous internal structure extending in a span-wise direction of the airfoil;   wherein the elongated continuous surface element includes an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein the upper and lower panels are arranged to communicate with and form extensions of respectively associated ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil;   wherein the continuous surface element is formed of a deformable compliant material;   wherein the upper and lower panels extend cross-sectionally from the upper and lower control surfaces to an apex;   wherein the elongated continuous surface element has a span-wise length that is greater than a maximum height between the upper and lower panels.   
     
     
         17 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 16 , further comprising an actuator coupled to an interior surface of one of the upper and lower panels. 
     
     
         18 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is attached to the interior surface and disposed at an intermediate location between a front end and a rear end of the interior surface. 
     
     
         19 . The edge morphing arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the upper panel communicates with the upper control surface via a fixed connection, and the lower panel communicates with the lower control surface via a sliding joint or an elastomer panel. 
     
     
         20 . A shape morphing arrangement comprising:
 a first surface element being elongated in a first direction and having a continuous internal structure extending in the first direction;   a second surface element being elongated in the first direction and having a continuous internal structure extending in the first direction;   wherein the first and second surface elements each define interior surfaces, wherein the interior surfaces of the first and second surface elements face each other;   wherein the first and second surfaces elements are formed of a deformable compliant material;   wherein the first and second surface elements extend cross-sectionally, in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, to an apex defined by the first and second surface elements;   wherein the first and second surface elements have a length in the first direction that is greater than a maximum height between the first and second surface elements; and   an actuator coupled to the first surface element, wherein actuation of the actuator applies a morphing force to the first surface element and the morphing force is transmitted to the second surface element such that the first and second surface elements are deformed.