Fluid routing device having a shape memory alloy member

• US 10,107,410 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Dankbaar, Frank, Gronhage, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Craig J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rost, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US14/773,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 251 11, 251331, 251294, 251244, 251242, 251236, 13762542
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/025 actuated by thermo-electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/12 with flat, dished, or bowl-shaped diaphragm

Abstract

The subject invention provides a fluid routing device for directing the transportation of a fluid including a housing defining first and second corridors selectively fluidly coupled to one another, and a valve assembly capable of alternating between an open configuration fluidly coupling the first and second corridors and a closed configuration fluidly separating the first and second corridors. A shape memory alloy member alternates between a de-energized state and an energized state. A link is pivotably mounted to the housing and is coupled between the valve assembly and the shape memory alloy member. The link pivots between a first position when the shape memory alloy member is in the de-energized state and a second position when the shape memory alloy member is in the energized state which alternates the valve assembly between the closed configuration and the open configuration for selectively fluidly coupling the first and second corridors.

Claims

1. A fluid routing device for directing the transportation of a fluid, said fluid routing device comprising:

a housing defining an interior and further defining a first corridor and a second corridor selectively fluidly coupled to one another;

a valve assembly disposed in said interior and capable of alternating between an open configuration and a closed configuration with said valve assembly fluidly coupling said first and second corridors to one another when in said open configuration and said valve assembly fluidly separating said first and second corridors from one another when in said closed configuration;

a shape memory alloy member mounted to said housing within said interior and extending toward said valve assembly, said shape memory alloy member alternating between a first length in a de-energized state and a second length in an energized state; and

a link disposed within said interior and pivotably mounted to said housing with said link coupled between said valve assembly and said shape memory alloy member, said link pivoting relative to said housing between a first position when said shape memory alloy member is in said de-energized state and said first length and a second position when said shape memory alloy member is in said energized state and said second length, said link configured to alternate said valve assembly between said closed configuration when said link is in said first position and said open configuration when said link is in said second position for selectively fluidly coupling said first and second corridors to one another;

wherein said valve assembly includes a diaphragm to fluidly separate said interior of said housing and said first and second corridors;

wherein said valve assembly includes an actuator movable between an open position when said valve assembly is in said open configuration and a closed position when said valve assembly is in said closed configuration; and

wherein said valve assembly includes a bias member abutting each of said housing and said actuator with said bias member biasing said actuator into said closed position.

2. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second corridor is further defined as a pair of second corridors spaced from one another and wherein said actuator is further defined as a pair of actuators with one of said actuators selectively fluidly coupling said first corridor with one of said second corridors and with another one of said actuators selectively fluidly coupling said first corridor with another one of said second corridors.

3. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shape memory alloy member has a first end and a second end spaced from one another with said shape memory alloy member coupled to said link between said first and second ends.

4. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shape memory alloy member defines a first portion between said first end and said link and a second portion between said second end and said link, with said first and second portions substantially parallel to one another.

5. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator includes a first contact and said housing includes a second contact, wherein said shape memory alloy member further includes an over-energized state with said first contact engaging said second contact in said over-energized state to facilitate alternation of said shape memory alloy member to said de-energized state to prevent over-heating of said shape memory alloy member.

6. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 further including a pressure sensor mounted in said housing and fluidly coupled to one of said first and second corridors.

7. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link includes an engagement portion engaging said valve assembly and a pivot portion spaced from said engagement portion with said link pivotably mounted to said housing at said pivot portion.

8. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said link includes a pivot end and an engagement end with said pivot portion defined at said pivot end and said engagement portion defined at said engagement end.

9. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said shape memory alloy member is coupled to said link between said engagement portion and said pivot portion.

10. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pivot portion includes a pair of posts extending away from one another and said housing defines a pair of cavities spaced from one another with said posts disposed within said cavities and said link pivotable about said posts relative to said housing.

11. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link defines a channel with said shape memory alloy member disposed within said channel to maintain said coupling of said shape memory alloy member with said link.

12. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm interfaces said actuator and moves with said actuator between said open position when said valve assembly is in said open configuration and said closed position when said valve assembly is in said closed configuration.

13. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said actuator defines a pocket and has an engagement surface disposed within said pocket, with said link at least partially disposed within said pocket and engaging said engagement surface to facilitate moving said actuator and said diaphragm between said open and closed position.

14. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said housing has a seat surface defining an opening between said first and second corridors with said diaphragm abutting and sealing said seat surface and covering said opening in said closed position to fluidly separate said first and second corridors and said diaphragm spaced from said seat surface in said open position to fluidly couple said first and second corridors through said opening.

15. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing includes a rail having said seat surface defining said opening with said diaphragm abutting and sealing said seat surface and covering said opening in said closed position to fluidly separate said first and second corridors.

16. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said diaphragm at least partially defines an intermediate corridor between said first and second corridors when said valve assembly is in said open configuration with said intermediate corridor fluidly coupling said first and second corridors.

17. A fluid routing device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said valve assembly includes a sleeve abutting and sealing said diaphragm against said housing with said sealing of said diaphragm against said housing further defining said intermediate corridor and fluidly coupling said first, second, and intermediate corridors.