ACCELERATING COOLING IN ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATORS USING HEAT SINKS
First Claim
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1. A thermally activated active material actuator adapted for increasing bandwidth, said actuator comprising:
- an active material actuator element operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property, when exposed to or occluded from a thermal activation signal, so as to heat and activate the element or enable the element to be cooled and deactivated, respectively,wherein the element presents an ambient rate of cooling when occluded from the signal after being activated, and a first cooling period based upon the ambient rate; and
a heat sink presenting a rate of thermal conductivity greater than the ambient rate, and autonomously engaging the element when the element is activated, so as to present a second cooling period shorter than the first period.
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Abstract
An actuator includes a thermally activated active material element, such as at least one shape memory alloy wire, and a heat sink configured to operatively engage the element and accelerate cooling after activation, so as to improve bandwidth.
58 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A thermally activated active material actuator adapted for increasing bandwidth, said actuator comprising:
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an active material actuator element operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property, when exposed to or occluded from a thermal activation signal, so as to heat and activate the element or enable the element to be cooled and deactivated, respectively, wherein the element presents an ambient rate of cooling when occluded from the signal after being activated, and a first cooling period based upon the ambient rate; and a heat sink presenting a rate of thermal conductivity greater than the ambient rate, and autonomously engaging the element when the element is activated, so as to present a second cooling period shorter than the first period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification