Shape memory alloy actuated device

• US 8,341,958 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Holbrook Brown, Jeffrey Wayne Brown
• Original Assignee: James Holbrook Brown, Jeffrey Wayne Brown
• Inventors: Brown, James Holbrook, Brown, Jeffrey Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US11/782,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 60527-529, 702/77, 702/787, 702/80
• US Class Current: 60/527
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically

Abstract

A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated device capable of stress inducing the SMA to its martensite state to reset the device. The device having at least one SMA wire utilized to move a movable member from a first position to a second position. The device further configured to utilize force from a first source to reset the device when the SMA is at or below the first temperature, and utilize force from at least a second source to reset the device when the SMA is above the first temperature.

Claims

1. A shape memory alloy actuated device, comprising:

a movable member movable between a first position and a second position;

at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member connected to the movable member, wherein the at least one SMA member moves the movable member from the first position to the second position when the at least one SMA member is heated above a first temperature and contracts;

wherein a force from a bias element biases the movable member from the second position toward the first position and, when the at least one SMA member is at or below a second temperature, stretches the SMA member and moves the movable member from the second position to the first position; and

wherein, while the movable member is in the second position, a force from a source of force external to the device is coupled to the SMA member, the resulting force being applied to the at least one SMA member being higher than a force applied by the bias element to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite when the temperature of the at least one SMA member is hotter than the martensite transition temperature of the at least one SMA member under the bias element force.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one shape memory alloy member moves the movable member from the first position to the second position in response to being heated to the first temperature by an electric current passing through the at least one shape memory alloy member.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force manually applied by a user of the device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the second temperature is a martensite transition temperature.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the second temperature is an austenitic temperature.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a ratchet adapted to receive and retain a striker of a door or lid and a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet when the movable member is in the first position and disengage the ratchet to release the door or lid when the first movable member moves to the second position.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite is coupled to the SMA member via the ratchet and further comprising an engagement portion on the ratchet for interfacing with the movable member to couple force from the ratchet to the SMA member to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite while the movable member is in the second position.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second movable member slideably movable along an angle groove, the second movable member adapted to transmit force from the source of force external to the device to the movable member to stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pivotal member that is positioned and arranged to transmit the force from the source of force external to the device to move the movable member from the second position to the first position when the shape memory alloy member is above the first temperature and further positioned and arranged to thereafter disengage the force from the source of force external to the device to permit the movable member to be moved from the first position to the second position.

16. The device of claim 6 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force manually applied by a user of the device.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force manually applied as the user closes the door or lid.

18. The device of claim 6 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force applied to the door or lid.

19. The device of claim 7 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force manually applied by a user of the device.

20. The device of claim 8 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force manually applied by a user of the device.

21. The device of claim 9 wherein the source of force external to the device that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises a source of force manually applied by a user of the device.

10. A shape memory alloy actuated device, comprising:

a movable member movable between a first position and a second position;

at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member connected to the movable member, wherein the at least one SMA member moves the movable member from the first position to the second position when the at least one SMA member is heated above its austenite transition temperature;

a first means for biasing the movable member from the second position toward the first position and, when the at least one SMA member is below its martensite transition temperature, for stretching the SMA member and moving the movable member from the second position to the first position; and

a second means for, while the movable member is in the second position, applying a force to the SMA member, the resulting force being applied to the at least one SMA member being higher than a force applied by the first means, to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite when the temperature of the at least one SMA member is hotter than the martensite transition temperature of the at least one SMA member under the force of the first means.

11. A method for moving an movable actuator member between a first position and second position, comprising:

heating a shape memory alloy (SMA) member, which is connected to the movable actuator member, to a first temperature by running an electric current through the SMA member to move the movable actuator member from the first position to the second position;

when the SMA member is below a second temperature, applying a first amount of tensile load from a first source to the SMA member to stretch the SMA member and move the movable actuator member from the second position to the first position; and

while the movable actuator member is in the second position, applying an amount of tensile force from a second source to the SMA member, the resulting force being applied to the at least one SMA member being higher than the force applied by the first source to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite when the temperature of the at least one SMA member is hotter than the martensite transition temperature of the at least one SMA member under the force of the first means.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein the tensile force from the second source applied to the SMA member to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite is manually applied by a user closing a door or lid opened in response to the movable actuator member moving from the first position to the second position.

12. A shape memory alloy actuated device for securing a door or lid, comprising:

a housing;

a link disposed within the housing, the link being movable between a first position and a second position and including a first coupling portion;

at least one shape memory alloy (SMAtwire having a first end fixed relative to link and a second end connected to the link, wherein the SMA wire contracts and moves the link from the first position to the second position when the SMA wire is heated above a first temperature;

a spring attached to the link and oriented to provide a first tensile force to the SMA wire;

wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire cools to below a second temperature, the spring stretches the shape memory alloy wire and moves the link from the second position to the first position; and

a ratchet pivotally attached to the housing and adapted to receive a striker of the door or lid, the ratchet having a second coupling portion for engagement of the first coupling portion of the link when the link is in the second position;

wherein, while the link is in the second position and the second coupling portion of the ratchet engages the first coupling portion of the link, as the striker is received into the ratchet, the ratchet pivots and the movement of the ratchet is coupled to the SMA member via the link, with the resulting force being applied to the at least one SMA member being higher than a force applied by the spring to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite when the temperature of the at least one SMA member is hotter than the martensite transition temperature of the at least one SMA member under the spring bias.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a pawl pivotally attached to the housing, wherein the pawl engages and restricts movement of the ratchet to hold the door or lid when the link is in the first position and disengages the ratchet to release the door or lid when the link moves to the second position.

14. A shape memory alloy actuated device, comprising:

a movable member movable between a first position and a second position;

at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member connected to the movable member, wherein the at least one SMA member moves the movable member from the first position to the second position when the at least one SMA member is heated above a first temperature and contracts;

wherein a force from a bias element biases the movable member from the second position toward the first position and, when the at least one SMA member is at or below a second temperature, stretches the SMA member and moves the movable member from the second position to the first position; and

wherein, while the movable member is in the second position, a force from a second source of force is coupled to the SMA member, the resulting force being applied to the at least one SMA member being higher than a force applied by the bias element to stretch the at least one SMA member and stress induce the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite when the temperature of the at least one SMA member is hotter than the martensite transition temperature of the at least one SMA member under the bias element force.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the second source of force that stress induces the at least one SMA member to change state from austenite to martensite comprises at least one other shape memory alloy member.