초록 ▼

A load carrying structure having a selectively rigid or flexible characteristic includes a thermoplastic material (7) having a softening temperature above the operating temperature range of the load carrying structure, and a heating arrangement (8) provided to selectively heat the thermoplastic mate

A load carrying structure having a selectively rigid or flexible characteristic includes a thermoplastic material (7) having a softening temperature above the operating temperature range of the load carrying structure, and a heating arrangement (8) provided to selectively heat the thermoplastic material to above its softening temperature. During normal operation, the thermoplastic material is in a rigid state and the overall load carrying structure is rigid to the prevailing loads. By activating the heating arrangement to heat the thermoplastic material to at least its softening temperature, the thermoplastic material and therewith the load carrying structure becomes flexible so that it may be deformed to a different configuration by applying a deforming load. Once the desired deformed configuration is achieved, the heating arrangement is deactivated, and the thermoplastic material is allowed to cool below its softening temperature so that it once again becomes rigid and rigidly fixes the new deformed configuration. The deforming force may be applied by any actuating mechanism, or for example by arranging shape memory alloys in connection with the thermoplastic material.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A load carrying structure adapted to be selectively rigid or flexibly reconfigurable, comprisinga thermoplastic material that has a softening temperature greater than a maximum operating temperature of said structure and that is in a flexible softened state at and above s

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A load carrying structure adapted to be selectively rigid or flexibly reconfigurable, comprisinga thermoplastic material that has a softening temperature greater than a maximum operating temperature of said structure and that is in a flexible softened state at and above said softening temperature and in a rigid state below said softening temperature, anda heating arrangement arranged and adapted to heat at least a portion of said thermoplastic material to at least said softening temperature so as to soften said portion of said thermoplastic material into said softened state,wherein said structure is rigid when said heating arrangement is not operating and said thermoplastic material is in said rigid state at a temperature below said softening temperature, andwherein said structure is flexibly reconfigurable when said heating arrangement is operated to heat at least said portion of said thermoplastic material to at least said softening temperature so as to soften said portion of said thermoplastic material into said softened state.