Compact valve
First Claim
1. A compact valve that opens and closes a fluid path with utilizing transformation of a shape memory alloy due to energization heating, characterized by thatthe compact valve comprises:
- a stationary structure of a cylindrical shape having an orifice that constitutes the fluid path;
a moving structure that contacts an inner periphery of the stationary structure, and has a sealing member freely movable to seal the orifice;
a wire formed of a shape memory alloy to move the moving structure; and
a first electrode and a second electrode to hold the wire and to energize the wire, and whereinthe moving structure is configured so that a length thereof is elastically variable, and is movable to seal the orifice by varying a length of the wire due to energization heating to the wire; and
the moving structure elastically transforms when sealing the orifice, and thereby, a stress that the wire receives can be reduced.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compact valve using a shape memory alloy comprises: a moving valve body that contacts an inner periphery of a guide pipe having an built-in orifice, is freely movable and has a sealing portion to seal the orifice; a biasing coil provided between the orifice and the moving valve body; and a wire formed of a shape memory alloy and held between a stationary electrode of the guide pipe and a moving electrode of the moving valve body. The orifice is sealed by moving the moving valve body due to transformation of the shape memory alloy by heating the wire. The moving valve body is enabled to be elastically deformable by providing a coil spring to reduce a stress, so that an overload to the moving valve body due to contraction of the wire is absorbed by elastic deformation of the moving valve body. Thereby, the overload to the shape memory alloy is reduced to prevent deterioration of repeatability of memorized shape, to increase durability and reliability of the valve.
38 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A compact valve that opens and closes a fluid path with utilizing transformation of a shape memory alloy due to energization heating, characterized by that
the compact valve comprises: -
a stationary structure of a cylindrical shape having an orifice that constitutes the fluid path; a moving structure that contacts an inner periphery of the stationary structure, and has a sealing member freely movable to seal the orifice; a wire formed of a shape memory alloy to move the moving structure; and a first electrode and a second electrode to hold the wire and to energize the wire, and wherein the moving structure is configured so that a length thereof is elastically variable, and is movable to seal the orifice by varying a length of the wire due to energization heating to the wire; and the moving structure elastically transforms when sealing the orifice, and thereby, a stress that the wire receives can be reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A compact valve that opens and closes a fluid path with utilizing transformation of a shape memory alloy due to energization heating, characterized by that
the compact valve comprises: -
a stationary structure of a cylindrical shape having a built-in orifice member that constitutes the fluid path; a moving structure that contacts an inner periphery of the stationary structure and is freely movable to seal the orifice; a wire formed of a shape memory alloy to move the moving structure; a first electrode and a second electrode that is held by one or both of the stationary structure and the moving structure, hold the wire and energize the wire; a first elastic member to apply a tensile stress to the wire as a bias; a second elastic member to reduce a stress that the wire receives in energizing heating to the wire, and wherein the moving structure is configured movable to seal the orifice by varying a length of the wire due to energization heating to the wire; the orifice member is movably provided in the stationary structure independently from the stationary structure; the first elastic member is provided between the orifice member and the moving structure in the stationary structure; and the second elastic member is provided between the orifice member and an end portion of the stationary structure opposite to a side for sealing the orifice.
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11. A compact valve that opens and closes a fluid path with utilizing transformation of a shape memory alloy due to energization heating, characterized by that
the compact valve comprises: -
a stationary structure of a cylindrical shape having a built-in orifice member that constitutes the fluid path; a moving structure that contacts an inner periphery of the stationary structure and is freely movable to seal the orifice; a wire formed of a shape memory alloy to move the moving structure; a first electrode and a second electrode that is held by one or both of the stationary structure and the moving structure, hold the wire and energize the wire; a first elastic member to apply a tensile stress to the wire as a bias; a second elastic member to reduce a stress that the wire receives in energizing heating to the wire, and wherein the moving structure is configured movable to seal the orifice by varying a length of the wire due to energization heating to the wire; the first electrode has a plate spring structure serving as a function of the second elastic member; and the second electrode has a plate spring structure serving as a function of the first elastic member.
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Specification