RECEIVER/EMITTER COVER UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION

• US 20100027119A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiujie, Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Kollar, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/507
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight

Abstract

A system for protecting an emitter/receiver device, including a cover and an active material actuator operable to selectively cause the cover to move between default protective and open positions, wherein the actuator includes at least one active material element, such as an SMA wire configured to cause the retraction of the cover and present a heating net when activated, and an activation signal source, and preferably further including at least one pulley and/or jack mechanism configured to redirect a displacement force vector, synchronization means, an antagonistic element for biasing the cover towards the protective or open position, and a controller presenting overheating protection through control logic.

Claims

1. A system adapted to protect a device defining an engaging surface from a space or a window providing access to the surface, said system comprising:

a moveable cover configured to overlay, so as to form superjacent layers with, the surface, when in a protective position; and

an actuator including an active material element operable to undergo a change when activated, and drivenly coupled to the cover such that the cover is selectively caused to move between the protective position and an open position, wherein the surface is exposed to the space, as a result of the change.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an SMA wire, the cover defines an engaging prong along the lateral centerline, and the wire is configured to generate a translation force upon the prong, when activated.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, and the actuator includes at least one pulley rotatably connected to the housing, and at least one SMA wire fixedly connected to the cover, entrained within said at least one pulley, and operable to cause the cover to translate, when activated.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is at least partially formed of shape memory polymer, so as to become malleable when activated and then re-hardened when deactivated.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is formed of an active material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers (EAP), piezoelectric materials, magnetostrictive materials, and electrostrictive materials.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the element is formed of a shape memory alloy and communicatively coupled to a controller, and the controller includes control logic configured to protect the element from overloading.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator and cover are cooperatively configured so as to cause in-plane translation by the cover, when the element is activated.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the surface is defined by a housing, the actuator further includes a jack mechanism comprising a scissor structure formed of a plurality of pivotably interconnected members fixedly secured to the cover and housing along the lateral centerline of the structure, and the actuator is configured to selectively cause the structure to collapse and the cover to translate.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each member includes telescopingly engaged tube and rod sections interconnected by an active material element disposed within the tube and configured to cause the rod to translate within the tube so that the member contracts, when activated.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a controller, the actuator includes a thermally activated element and is operable to determine a first condition where the cover fails to move and the element is activated, the controller is communicatively coupled to the actuator and configured to modify the activation signal, when the first condition is determined, so as to control the output of heat energy.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one biasing element antagonistic to the actuator and configured to bias the cover towards one of the protective and open positions.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator and cover are cooperatively configured so as to cause in-plane rotation by the cover, when the element is activated.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cover is formed by first and second mated disks, the actuator includes first and second pulley and SMA wire combinations, and each of the wires interconnects the disks so as to cause the disks to rotate, when activated.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator and cover are cooperatively configured so as to cause out-of-plane rotation by the cover, when the element is activated.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the actuator includes at least one spooled SMA wire wound around a pivot axis defined by the cover, and operable to cause the cover to rotate when activated, and further comprising:

an antagonistic element antagonistic to the actuator, engaging the cover, and configured to bias the cover towards one of the protective and open positions.

16. A system adapted to detect a first condition within a space by receiving emissions through a surface adjacent the space, and to protect by selectively blocking the surface from the space when not in operation, said system comprising:

a device operable to detect the first condition within the space;

a moveable cover configured to overlay, so as to form superjacent layers with the surface, when in a protective position, and to allow the device to operate, when in an open position; and

an actuator including an active material element operable to undergo a change when exposed to an activation signal and drivenly coupled to the cover such that the cover is caused to move between the protective and open positions as a result of the change, and further including a source operable to generate the signal.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover presents a flocking layer adjacent the surface in the protective position, and the layer is configured to clean the surface as the cover is moved between the protective and open positions.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover is transversely attached to a lever arm at a first distal end, the lever arm defines a second distal end, and a pivot point, the actuator engages and is operable to translate the second end, so as to provide mechanical advantage, the surface defines a convex profile, and the cover defines contours generally congruent to the surface profile, so as to slidingly engage the surface as the lever arm pivots about the point.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a housing configured to store the device adjacent the space, wherein said housing is coupled to a fluid reservoir and defines a nozzle configured to enable a quantity of fluid to be sprayed upon the surface; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid reservoir and device, and configured to automatically cause the fluid to be sprayed upon the surface when the device detects a first condition relative to the surface.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and source, and configured to detect ice accumulation adjacent the cover, and cause the signal to be modified, when the accumulation is detected, so that heat energy is generated over a period sufficient to melt the accumulation and the peak temperature is limited.