Flow control assemblies having integrally formed shape memory alloy actuators
First Claim
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1. A shape memory alloy-actuated flow controller, comprising:
- a rotatable flap having a shaft along an axis about which said rotatable flap rotates; and
an actuator disposed within said shaft and configured to generate a force causing said rotatable flap to rotate, said actuator comprising a shape memory alloy (“
SMA”
) actuator including a number of SMA elements.
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Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated flow controller comprises a number of grille members, each having a long axis and being slideable relative to one another parallel to that long axis. The SMA-actuated flow controller also includes a frame configured to guide the number of grille members, and an actuator disposed within the frame to move at least one of the number of grille members for varying a size of an aperture. Further, the actuator includes an SMA actuator that includes a number of SMA elements each connecting one grille number to another.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A shape memory alloy-actuated flow controller, comprising:
a rotatable flap having a shaft along an axis about which said rotatable flap rotates; and
an actuator disposed within said shaft and configured to generate a force causing said rotatable flap to rotate, said actuator comprising a shape memory alloy (“
SMA”
) actuator including a number of SMA elements.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shape memory alloy-actuated aperture controller, comprising:
a rotatable member having a shaft along an axis about which said rotatable member rotates, said rotatable member configured to vary a size of an aperture; and
an actuator disposed within said shaft and configured to generate a force causing said rotatable member to rotate, said actuator comprising a shape memory alloy (“
SMA”
) actuator including a number of SMA elements.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
Specification