Aircraft actuator formed of thermally adaptive materials and a thermoelectric junction
An actuator having a composition gradient defining a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from the first coefficient of thermal expansion; and a thermoelectric junction operationally coupled to the composition gradient, wherein the composition gradient is formed of either of a plurality of dissimilar metals or of plastic with fillings or fibers.
1 . A device comprising:
a composition gradient defining a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from the first coefficient of thermal expansion; and
a thermoelectric junction operationally coupled to the composition gradient,
wherein the composition gradient is formed of either of a plurality of dissimilar metals or of plastic with fillings or fibers;
a base formed by the composition gradient defining the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from the first coefficient of thermal expansion, so that:
the base defines an outer boundary and beads within the outer boundary,
each of the beads has a bead void, and each of the beads includes:
first and second perimeter segments that are opposite each other and formed to define the first CTE; and
third and fourth perimeter segments that are opposite each other, adjacent to the first and second perimeter segments, and formed to define the second CTE; and
the thermoelectric junction is provided around the outer boundary or in one or more of the bead voids,
wherein the device is an actuator.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
each perimeter segment has a radial inner portion and a radial outer portion;
the radial inner portion of the first and second perimeter segments is formed ef to define the first CTE and the radial outer portion of the first and second perimeter segments is formed to define the second CTE; and
the radial inner portion of the third and fourth perimeter segments is formed to define the second CTE and the radial outer portion of the third and fourth perimeter segments is formed to define the first CTE.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein: adjacent ones of the beads are interconnected to form a lattice.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer boundary defines a first outer end and a second outer end, wherein the first and second outer ends are opposite each other, and
the base includes a top elastomer layer that is disposed against the first outer end of the outer boundary and a bottom elastomer layer that is disposed against the second outer end of the outer boundary.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein
the base includes an elastomer segment that extends from each of the beads that are located along the outer boundary of the base, so that adjacent ones of the elastomer segments overlap each other to define a flexible outer boundary cover.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the base includes a support material that forms a support structure that defines the outer boundary of the base and a plurality of base voids, wherein each of the plurality of base voids is lined with one of the beads.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein:
the support material differs from the bead.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the beads define an oval or diamond shape.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the thermoelectric junction is a Peltier device.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the composition gradient is formed of a first material having the first CTE and a second materials having the second CTE, and one or both of the first and second materials is a bistable metal, alloy or composite.