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Hydraulic shape memory material stress to hydraulic pressure transducer

  • US 5,079,920 A
  • Filed: 08/06/1990
  • Issued: 01/14/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A hydraulic shape memory material stress to hydraulic pressure transducer, comprising:

  • a) a positive displacement hydraulic housing, a surface contained within said hydraulic housing capable of moving between a first and second position within said hydraulic housing, a fluid further contained within said hydraulic housing in contact with said surface, one or more lengths of shape memory material having first and second ends, and means for selectively heating said said shape memory material;

    b) said first end of said shape memory material being connected to a first point within said hydraulic housing, said second position being physically nearer said first point than said first position, said second end of said shape memory material being connected to a second point on said surface, said shape memory material being capable of changing from an unactivated state to an activated state when said shape memory material is heated above a transition temperature so as to move said surface from said first position within said hydraulic housing to said second position within said hydraulic housing, said shape memory material further being capable of changing back from said activated state to said unactivated state when said shape memory material is cooled below said transition temperature thereby allowing said surface to move from said second position to said first position, and said shape memory material having a shorter longitudinal dimension in said activated state than in said unactivated state such that said shape memory material is in at least partial tension in said activated state; and

    wherein said shape memory material changing from said unactivated state to said activated state causes said surface to move from said first position to said second position, thus transducing stress potential energy from said shape memory material into said fluid as high pressure potential energy.

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