ACTUATOR

• US 20130043691A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace Systems GmbH (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Heiko Marz
• Inventors: MARZ, Heiko
• Application Number:
  US13/586,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20130043691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/144
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/06 using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like using thermal expansion of non-vaporising liquids F01K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor

Abstract

An actuator for opening a locking of an emergency oxygen container or a mask door in an aircraft. The actuator includes an opener of a shape memory alloy and a resistance wire. The resistance wire is at least partly wound around the opener and can be connected to a supply voltage.

Claims

1. A lock actuator comprising:

an opener of a shape memory alloy;

a resistance wire connected to said opener in a thermally conductive manner and connectable to a supply voltage.

2. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein said resistance wire at least partly is wound around said opener or along said opener.

3. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein said opener is configured to change length with changes of temperature.

4. An actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a thermistor connected in series with said resistance wire in front of said resistance wire.

5. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein said resistance wire comprises copper, nickel and manganese.

6. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein said resistance wire is at least partly wound around said opener or along said opener to provide a plurality of windings and a distance is present in each case between adjacent said windings of said resistance wire.

7. An actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a tube wherein said opener and said resistance wire are received at least partly in said tube.

8. An actuator according to claim 7, wherein said tube is a capillary

9. An actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a tube wherein said opener at least partly is received in said tube, and said resistance wire is wound at least partly around said tube.

10. An actuator according to claim 9, wherein said tube is a capillary.

11. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is arranged in a passenger service unit in an aircraft.

12. An aircraft comprising:

a passenger service unit in an aircraft

an emergency oxygen container or mask container with a door, said emergency oxygen container or mask container being arranged in said passenger service unit in the aircraft;

a door lock actuator comprising an opener of a shape memory alloy and a resistance wire connected to said opener in a thermally conductive manner and connectable to a supply voltage.

13. An aircraft according to claim 12, wherein said resistance wire at least partly is wound around said opener or along said opener.

14. An aircraft according to claim 12, wherein said opener is configured to change length with changes of temperature.

15. An aircraft according to claim 12, further comprising a thermistor connected in series with said resistance wire in front of said resistance wire.

16. An aircraft according to claim 12, wherein said resistance wire comprises copper, nickel and manganese.

17. An aircraft according to claim 12, wherein said resistance wire is at least partly wound around said opener or along said opener to provide a plurality of windings and a distance is present in each case between adjacent said windings of said resistance wire.

18. An aircraft according to claim 12, further comprising a tube wherein said opener and said resistance wire are received at least partly in said tube.

19. An aircraft compartment door actuator comprising:

a compartment with a door;

a lock actuator comprising an opener of a shape memory alloy and a resistance wire connected to said opener in a thermally conductive manner and a supply voltage connected to said resistance wire.

20. An actuator according to claim 19, wherein:

said resistance wire at least partly is wound around said opener or along said opener; and

said opener is configured to change length with changes of temperature.