Method and apparatus for spatially orienting movable members using shape memory effect alloy actuator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for spatially orienting the pointing direction of a movable distal end of an elongated structure comprising:
- (a) a shape memory effect alloy actuator connected between said distal end of said elongated structure and an intermediate portion of said elongated structure, said actuator having at least one, first memory shape capable of deflecting said movable end of said elongated structure, and(b) means for varying the temperature of said actuator from a quiescent value to a value which effects a shape transition of said actuator proportional to said temperature variation, said means being controllable from the proximal end of said elongated structure.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for spatially orienting a remote flexible member such as the tip of a borescope to point in a desired direction employs heating to its transition temperature a shape memory efffect SME alloy actuating element coupled to the tip and cable. In one embodiment, an elongated helical spring fabricated from an SME alloy such as NI--TI or CU--ZN--AL is longitudinally disposed between the remote end of a borescope cable, and the borescope tip. An electrical resistance wire heater in contact with the spring and energized by an electrical power source controlled by an observer at the near end of the cable is used to heat a selected part of the spring to the transition temperature of the SME alloy of which it is fabricated, producing a controlled deflection of the borescope tip to point in a direction directed by the observer.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for spatially orienting the pointing direction of a movable distal end of an elongated structure comprising:
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(a) a shape memory effect alloy actuator connected between said distal end of said elongated structure and an intermediate portion of said elongated structure, said actuator having at least one, first memory shape capable of deflecting said movable end of said elongated structure, and (b) means for varying the temperature of said actuator from a quiescent value to a value which effects a shape transition of said actuator proportional to said temperature variation, said means being controllable from the proximal end of said elongated structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for spatially orienting the pointing direction of the distal end of a flexible borescope comprising:
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(a) at least one helical spring fabricated from a shape memory effect alloy, said spring being attached to both the cable and tip of said borescope, and said spring having memory of at least a first shape previously imprinted upon said spring, and (b) means for varying the temperature of at least part of said spring to approach the transition temperature of the said shape memory effect alloy of which said spring is fabricated, whereby said spring shape may approach its memory shape with an accompanying production of external force effective in moving said borescope tip relative to said borescope cable, the closeness of approach of said spring shape to its memory shape being proportional to the closeness of the actual temperature of said spring to said transition temperature of said spring. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for deflecting the tip of a borescope at the end of a flexible cable to point in a desired direction comprising:
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(a) at least one helical spring fabricated from a shape memory effect alloy and having a memory of at least one shape imprinted on said spring, said shape being recoverable with the production of accompanying external force when at least part of said spring is heated to the transition temperature of said shape memory effect alloy of which said spring is fabricated, the degree of completeness of said shape recovery being proportional to the closeness of the actual temperature of said spring to said transition temperature of said spring, (b) means for restoring said spring to a quiescent, second shape when said spring is cooled below said transition temperature, (c) means for coupling said shape transitions to said borescope tip and cable effective in moving said tip relative to said cable, (d) means for heating said spring to approach said transition temperature as closely as desired, and (e) means for cooling said spring to a temperature below said transition temperature. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. In a structure having a body and an end part movable with respect to said body, the method of moving said movable part to point in an arbitrary desired direction with respect to said body comprising:
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(a) connecting an actuating member fabricated of a shape memory effect alloy between said body and movable end part of said structure, and (b) varying the temperature of said actuating member to approach a value at which at least part of said actuating member approaches a transition to a memory shape. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification