Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100066113 | MANIPULATING CENTER CONSOLE COMPONENTS UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A center console comprising a manipulable structural component, such as a pivotal lid, sliding armrest, tambour door, or pivotal cup holder, and at least one active material actuator including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change, drivenly coupled to the component, and configured to autonomously cause and/or enable the component to be manipulated as a result of the change. | 03-18-2010 |
20100112924 | ACTIVE MATERIAL ENABLED PRESSURE RELEASE VALVES AND METHODS OF USE - A pressure relief valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to one of an open position and a closed position. A linear actuator mechanically couples between the movable vane and the housing. The linear actuator is a wire device fabricated from a shape memory alloy. An actuable latching system is configured to retain the movable vane in one of the open position and the closed position for an indeterminate time period. | 05-06-2010 |
20100237632 | ELECTRICALLY-ACTIVATED HOOD LATCH AND RELEASE MECHANISM - A latch assembly includes a latch movable between released and restrained positions and a latch spring biasing toward the released position. A first lever is movable between open and closed positions, corresponding to the released and restrained positions, respectively. A first lever spring biases toward the closed position. A second lever is movable between unlocked and locked positions, corresponding to the first lever open and closed positions, respectively. A second lever spring biases toward the locked position. An active material based actuator selectively moves the second lever from the locked to unlocked position in response to an activation signal. A primary activation mechanism selectively produces the activation signal without a mechanical connection to the passenger compartment. An auxiliary activation mechanism does not rely on the vehicle power system. A key or portable energy storage device may cause the activation signal from the primary or auxiliary activation mechanism. | 09-23-2010 |
20100330894 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTIVE HATCH VENT - A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch. | 12-30-2010 |
20110094216 | VEHICLE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE USING VEHICLE THERMAL GRADIENTS - A vehicle includes an energy harvesting system. The energy harvesting system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy and includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The component is driven by the heat engine in response to the temperature difference. | 04-28-2011 |
20110105004 | FAN SYSTEM FOR VENTING A VEHICLE - A fan system includes a first fluid region having a first temperature and a second fluid region having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. An energy harvesting system is disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. A fan is driven by an energy harvesting system in response to the temperature difference between the first fluid region and the second fluid region. | 05-05-2011 |
20110138800 | Electricity-Generating Heat Conversion Device and System - A heat conversion device configured for generating electricity and converting thermal energy includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a pseudoplastically pre-strained shape-memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to thermal energy from a temperature difference between fluids of less than or equal to about 300° C. The heat engine also includes a generator driven by the heat engine and configured for converting mechanical energy to electricity. A heat conversion system configured for generating electricity and converting thermal energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference of less than or equal to about 300° C. between a primary fluid having a first temperature and a secondary fluid having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature, and the heat conversion device. | 06-16-2011 |
20110139395 | Heat Transport System and Method - A heat transport system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to transfer heat from one of the first fluid region and the second fluid region to the other of the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy. | 06-16-2011 |
20110139396 | Autonomous Fluid Mixing System and Method - A vehicle includes a fluid mixing system. The fluid mixing system includes a fluid and a heat engine. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in heat exchange contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to mix the fluid between the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to a change in the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy to reduce the difference in the composition of the fluid bath between the first fluid region and the second fluid region. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140456 | Shape-Memory Alloy-Driven Power Plant and Method - A power plant configured for converting thermal energy to electricity includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a primary fluid having a first temperature and a secondary fluid having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The plant also includes a collector configured for enhancing the temperature difference between the primary and secondary fluids, and a heat engine configured for converting at least some thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a pseudoplastically pre-strained shape-memory alloy disposed in heat exchange relationship with each of the primary and secondary fluids. Further, the plant includes a generator driven by the heat engine and configured for converting mechanical energy to electricity. A method of utilizing a naturally-occurring temperature difference between air and/or water to change a crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy to convert the temperature difference into mechanical energy is disclosed. | 06-16-2011 |
20120234000 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATOR WITH ENHANCED HEAT TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS - A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator includes an SMA element and a flexible outer coating or layer. The element is respectively activated by a heating source. The layer surrounds the element, and enhances the heat transfer characteristics of the element to increase the speed of the actuation cycle. The nominal geometry and/or thermal conductivity may be altered during an activation phase, and may include discrete elements oriented with respect to the element, and partially embedded in the layer. An end gripper assembly may be used to cause the layer to move in concert with the element during a phase transformation. An electro-mechanical system includes the cooling source and the actuator. A method includes connecting the actuator to a load, activating the element using the heating source, and deactivating the element using a cooling source or free/ambient air. | 09-20-2012 |
20130209079 | CAMERA SYSTEM - A camera system includes a body defining a cavity therein, and a camera attached to the body within the cavity and including a lens. The camera system also includes a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a thermal activation signal, and a wiper configured for wiping debris from the lens. The wiper is attached to the camera and is actuatable by the shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy transitions between the first state and the second state to actuate the wiper so that the wiper contacts and translates across the lens and thereby wipes debris from the lens. | 08-15-2013 |
20130247950 | HEAT ENGINE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES - A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, includes a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface. The heat engine system also includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy. The air layer has a first temperature, and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. In addition, the heat engine system includes a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine. A vehicle includes a body defining an interior compartment and having an underside surface spaced opposite the road surface, and the heat engine system. | 09-26-2013 |
20140349560 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTIVE HATCH VENT - A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch. | 11-27-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120216522 | ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216526 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element. | 08-30-2012 |
20130011806 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING PHASE TRANSFORMATION TEMPERATURE OF A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY - A device and method for controlling a phase transformation temperature of a shape memory alloy is provided. The device includes a primary wire composed of the shape memory alloy. The primary wire defines first and second ends, the first end being attached to a fixed structure and the second end being able to displace. An activation source is thermally coupled to the wire and is operable to selectively cause the primary wire to reversibly transform from a Martensitic phase to an Austenitic phase during a cycle. A loading element is operatively connected to the primary wire and configured to selectively increase a tensile load on the primary wire when an ambient temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, thereby increasing the phase transformation temperature of the primary wire. | 01-10-2013 |
20140069318 | SPRING-BODIED DEVICE FOR IN-SITU OVERHEAT ALERT FOR EQUIPMENT - Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical equipment, for example equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. Some pre-determined temperature, greater than the highest normal operating temperature of the equipment, is presumed or known to be indicative of impending equipment failure if no remedial action is taken. A resettable, temperature-sensitive device, containing a shape memory alloy actuator, pre-selected to operate at the pre-determined temperature, is disclosed. The device is placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-determined temperature, the shape memory alloy actuator causes the device to display a flag or provide some other passive visual indication. Alternatively, or additionally, the actuator may trigger an electrically-powered alert including visual or audible alerts or a wireless communication. | 03-13-2014 |