Shape memory alloy controllable hinge apparatus

• US 6,175,989 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Draper, Jerry L., Carpenter, Bernie F., Gehling, Russell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): PILAUD, ROBERT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/084,547
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 162/25, 162/26, 163/85, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.3, 403/28, 403/32, 403/65, 403/81, 136/206, 136/292, 136/291, 136/245, 343/DIG.2, 343/915, 343/882, 343/881, 521/733, 526/46, 526/551, 52/1, 52/71, 605/27, 605/28, 605/29, 244/219, 244/75.R, 244/173
• US Class Current: 16/225
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/222 for deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/02 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/67 Materials; Strength alteration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/21 Utilizing thermal characteristic, e.g. , expansion or contraction, etc.

Abstract

A shape memory alloy hinge assembly for deploying at least a first object in a controllable, substantially shockless manner is disclosed. Generally, the hinge assembly includes at least a first flexure member capable of moving from a first, folded configuration to a second, straightened configuration, and a controller for controlling the movement of at least the first flexure member as the first flexure member moves or reconfigures from the folded configuration to the straightened configuration.

Claims

1. A hinge apparatus for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected thereto from at least the first position at least towards the second position as said first flexure member moves from a first configuration towards a second configuration, said first flexure member being interconnectable to the object, wherein said first flexure member has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration and is resiliently flexurable about said intermediate portion to flexurally move from said first configuration corresponding to the object in the first position to said second configuration corresponding to the object in the second position, said first flexure member being foldable to a substantially U-shape in said first configuration, wherein said first flexure member in said first configuration has a first stored energy greater than a second stored energy of said first flexure member in said second configuration; and

a means, interconnectable to at least said first flexure member, for controlling movement of at least said first flexure member from said first configuration to said second configuration, wherein said means for controlling movement comprises a means for absorbing said first stored energy of at least said first flexure member as said first flexure member flexurally moves from said first configuration to said second configuration, said first flexure member being substantially straighter in said second configuration than in said first configuration, wherein said means for absorbing comprises a first plastically deformable damping member, said first plastically deformable damping member comprising a shape memory alloy having at least a martensite phase.

2. A hinge apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arcuate cross-sectional configuration of said first flexure member has radius of curvature of at least 0.25 inch.

3. A hinge apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first plastically deformable damping member has an austenitic shape corresponding to the first flexure member in said first configuration, wherein said means for controlling movement further comprises a means for heating said first plastically deformable damping member to move said first flexure member from said second configuration at least toward said first configuration by recovering said austenitic shape of said first plastically deformable damping member.

4. A hinge apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for controlling movement comprises a means for releasably locking said first flexure member in at least said first configuration.

5. A hinge assembly for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member, having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected to one of said first and second end portions from the first position to the second position corresponding to first and second configurations of said first flexure member, respectively, wherein said first flexure member comprises a first shape memory alloy; and

a means, interconnectable to said first flexure member, for actively controlling movement of at least said first flexure member between said first and second configurations, wherein said means for actively controlling comprises a first heating means, electrically connected to said first flexure member, for resistively heating said first flexure member to actuate said first flexure member from said first configuration to at least one of said second configuration and a third configuration therebetween to move the object from the first position to at least one of the second position and a third position therebetween.

6. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least first and second end portions of said first flexure member are interconnectable to said means for controlling via at least one of an adhesive and a fastener.

7. A hinge apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first flexure member has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration, wherein said first flexure member in said first configuration has a first stored energy greater than a second stored energy of said first flexure member in said second configuration.

8. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first heating means comprises a means for regulating the amount of current supplied to said first flexure member to selectively actuate said first flexure member from said first configuration to said third configuration.

9. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second configurations correspond to folded and straightened configurations of said first flexure members.

10. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first heating means comprises a first integral heater interconnected to at least said first flexure member and an electric source.

11. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first integral heater has an arcuate cross-section.

12. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first heating means comprises a first heating member electrically connectable to an electric source, said hinge assembly further comprising:

a first elastomeric member interposed between said first flexure member and said first heating member, wherein said first elastomeric member is heat conductive to transfer heat from said first heating member to said first flexure member.

13. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a second flexure member interconnectable to said first flexure member, said second flexure member comprising a second shape memory alloy and having austenitic and martensitic shapes corresponding to said second and first configurations of said first flexure member, respectively, wherein said second flexure member is interconnectable to one of said first heating means and a second heating means for heating said second flexure member to actuate said second flexure member at least from said first configuration to said second configuration, with said first flexure member, to move the object from the first position to the second position.

14. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second flexure member has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration.

15. A hinge apparatus for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected thereto from at least the first position at least towards the second position as said first flexure member moves from a first configuration toward a second configuration, said first flexure member being interconnectable to the object, wherein said first flexure member comprises a shape memory alloy, said first flexure member having an austenitic shape corresponding to said second configuration; and

a means, interconnectable to at least said first flexure member, for controlling movement of at least said first flexure member from said first configuration to said second configuration, wherein said means for controlling movement comprises a means for actuating at least said first flexure member between said first configuration corresponding to the object in the first position and said second configuration corresponding to the object in the second position, wherein said means for actuating comprises at least a first heating means electrically connected to said first flexure member for resistively heating said first flexure member to move said first flexure member at least toward said second configuration.

16. A hinge apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for actuating further comprises a means for regulating the amount of current supplied to said first flexure member to selectively actuate said first flexure member from said first configuration to at least a third configuration between said first and second configurations to selectively position the object to a third position between the first and second positions.

17. A hinge assembly for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member, having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected to one of said first and second end portions from the first position to the second position corresponding to first and second configurations of said flexure member, respectively; and

a means, interconnectable to said first flexure member, for passively controlling movement of at least said first flexure member between said first and second configurations, wherein said means for passively controlling comprises a plastically deformable member comprising a shape memory alloy having at least a martensitic shape corresponding to said first flexure member being in said first configuration and an austenitic shape corresponding to said first flexure member being in said second configuration, said plastically deformable member being bendable at least in said martensitic shape to absorb stored energy of said first flexure member as said first flexure member flexes from said first configuration to said second configuration.

18. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 17, wherein said plastically deformable member has an arcuate cross-section.

19. A hinge assembly for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member, having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected to one of said first and second end portions from the first position to the second position corresponding to first and second configurations of said first flexure member, respectively; and

a means, interconnectable to said first flexure member, for actively controlling movement of at least said first flexure member between said first and second configurations, wherein said means for actively controlling comprises a plastically deformable member comprising a shape memory alloy having an austenitic shape corresponding to said first flexure member in said first configuration and a martensitic shape corresponding said first flexure member in said second configuration, wherein said means for actively controlling further comprises a means for selectively heating said plastically deformable member to recover said austenitic shape of said plastically deformable member to configure said first flexure member in said first configuration.

20. A hinge assembly for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member, having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected to one of said first and second end portions from the first position to the second position corresponding to first and second configurations of said first flexure member, respectively, wherein said first flexure member comprises a shape memory alloy, said first flexure member having a martensitic shape and an austenitic shape corresponding to said first and second configurations of said first flexure member, respectively, wherein said first flexure member has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration and is folded in said first configuration and straightened in said second configuration; and

a means, interconnectable to said first flexure member, for one of passively and actively controlling movement of at least said first flexure member between said first and second configurations.

21. A hinge assembly for moving an object interconnected thereto to at least one of first and second positions, comprising:

at least a first flexure member, having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, for moving the object interconnected to one of said first and second end portions from the first position to the second position corresponding to first and second configurations of said first flexure member, respectively, wherein said first flexure member comprises a first shape memory alloy, said first flexure member having a first austenitic shape and a first martensitic shape corresponding to said first and second configurations of said first flexure member; and

a means, interconnectable to said first flexure member, for actively controlling movement of at least said first flexure member between said first and second configurations, wherein said means for actively controlling movement comprises first heating means, operatively associated with said first flexure member, for heating said first flexure member to actuate said first flexure member from at least said second configuration to said first configuration.

22. A hinge assembly, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said first austenitic shape of said first flexure member is substantially U-shaped and said martensitic shape of said first flexure member is a substantially straight configuration.