Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080272615 | AIRFLOW CONTROL DEVICES BASED ON ACTIVE MATERIALS - An airflow control device comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow to better suit changes in driving conditions such as weather, ground clearance and speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. As such, the device reduces vehicle damage due to inadequate ground clearance, while increasing vehicle stability and fuel economy. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness of the device. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal. | 11-06-2008 |
20090045042 | Active material based bodies for varying frictional force levels at the interface between two surfaces - A device for selectively controlling and varying a frictional force level at an interface between two bodies, includes a first contact body having at least one surface, a second contact body having at least one surface in physical communication with the first contact body, and an active material in operative communication with a selected one or both of the first contact body and the second contact body, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal wherein the change in a property is effective to change the frictional force level at the interface between the at least one surface of the first contact body and the at least one surface of the second contact body. | 02-19-2009 |
20090047197 | Active material based bodies for varying surface texture and frictional force levels - A device for selectively controlling and varying surface texture includes a body having at least one surface, and an active material in operative communication with the at least one surface, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in a property is effective to change a texture of the at least one surface. | 02-19-2009 |
20090074993 | Active material activated cover - In one embodiment, a cover system can comprise: a cover and an active material component in operable communication with the cover. The active material component can comprise an active material that enables the deployment and retraction of the cover. | 03-19-2009 |
20090267339 | BELT RETRACTOR UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A seat belt retractor utilizing active material actuation for selectively modifying the tension in a seat belt. | 10-29-2009 |
20090277169 | OVERHEATING PROTECTION FOR SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATORS - An overheating protection system adapted for use with a shape memory alloy actuator element, includes at least one switching shape memory alloy element presenting a slower activation period than that of the actuator element, and configured to selectively prevent activation of the actuator element, when the actuator element is actually or predicted to be experiencing overheating; and a circuit comprising the system, wherein the switching element and/or a circuit implement functions to modify activation of the actuator element. | 11-12-2009 |
20090277170 | CONTROLLING HEAT TRANSFER IN ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATORS USING EXTERNAL ELEMENTS - An actuator includes a thermally activated active material member, and an external element configured to selectively engage the member and presenting a predetermined rate of thermal conductivity configured to transfer heat energy to and/or from the member, so as to reduce the actuation period or rate of cooling after actuation, when engaged. | 11-12-2009 |
20100000991 | THERMALLY ACTIVATED VARIABLE STIFFNESS COMPOSITES FOR AIRCRAFT SEALS - An apparatus has a first structure, a second structure, and an activated seal. The second structure has a first position adjacent to the first structure such that the first structure is not in contact with the second structure. The activated seal is attached to at least one of the first structure and the second structure. The activated seal has a variable stiffness that may be changed in response to a stimuli such that the activated seal is capable of being deformed when at least one of the first structure and the second structure are moved relative to each other. | 01-07-2010 |
20100117663 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATOR UTILIZING RESISTANCE CHANGE - A method of controlling a shape memory alloy actuator utilizing the change in resistance exhibited by the actuator over an actuation cycle, and more preferably, a derivative thereof, to identify at least one event, and generating a response based upon the event. | 05-13-2010 |
20100314860 | REVERSIBLY DEPLOYABLE ENERGY ABSORBING ASSEMBLY AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly includes a rigid support structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a flexible covering sealingly engaged with the rigid support structure to define an inflatable interior region; a gas source in fluid communication with the at least one inlet; an inlet control valve positioned intermediate the gas source and the at least one inlet; and an actively controlled pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one outlet. The inlet control valve and the pressure relief valve are adapted to provide a response suitable for use in vehicle impact management. | 12-16-2010 |
20110163769 | METHODS OF DETERMINING MID-STROKE POSITIONS OF ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATED LOADS - Systems for and methods of determining at least one mid-stroke position of an active material actuated load by causing a stress induced rapid change in electrical resistance within the active material element, or modifying an ancillary circuit, when the load is at the mid-stroke position(s). | 07-07-2011 |
20120015149 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLED TEXTURING SYSTEMS - Actively controlled texturing systems for and methods of selectively and reversibly forming wrinkles, or modifying the amplitude, wavelength, or pattern of existing wrinkles upon a surface using active material actuation. | 01-19-2012 |
20120046791 | METHOD OF IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF SMA ACTUATOR - A method of improving the speed and consistency of response of a shape memory alloy actuator under varying ambient and operating conditions. The method includes probing the shape memory alloy by periodically determining an electric signal strength at which it will undergo forward or reverse phase transformation, while avoiding actual phase transformation; priming the shape memory alloy by bringing it close to phase transformation; initiating phase transformation; and maintaining the shape memory alloy in the phase transformed state. The electric signal strength at which the shape memory alloy will undergo phase transformation is determined by identifying a cusp feature in the electric resistance of the shape memory alloy which closely precedes phase transformation. | 02-23-2012 |
20120109573 | METHOD OF DETERMINING A HEAT TRANSFER CONDITION FROM A RESISTANCE CHARACTERISTIC OF A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ELEMENT - A method of sensing an ambient heat transfer condition surrounding a shape memory alloy element includes heating the shape memory alloy element, sensing the resistance of the shape memory alloy element, and measuring the period of time taken to heat the shape memory alloy element to a pre-determined level of a resistance characteristic. The ambient heat transfer condition surrounding the shape memory alloy element is calculated by referencing a relationship between the period of time taken to heat the shape memory alloy to the pre-determined level of the resistance characteristic and the ambient heat transfer condition. | 05-03-2012 |
20120114778 | SURFACE TEXTURING USING FOLDABLE STRUCTURES AND ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a variably foldable structure in communication with the surface, and active material actuation to enable and/or cause folding. | 05-10-2012 |
20120216522 | ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216523 | ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216524 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216525 | METHOD OF STARTING AND OPERATING A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINE - A shape memory alloy (SMA) heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley, a second rotatable pulley, and an SMA material disposed about the first and second rotatable pulleys and between a hot region and a cold region. A method of starting and operating the SMA heat engine includes detecting a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region using a controller, decoupling an electrical generator from one of the first and second rotatable pulleys, monitoring a speed of the SMA material about the first and second rotatable pulleys, and re-engaging the driven component if the monitored speed of the SMA material exceeds a threshold. The SMA material may selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and between the hot region and the cold region to convert the thermal gradient into mechanical energy. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216526 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216527 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes a first wire, a second wire, and a matrix joining the first wire and the second wire. The first wire and the second wire are in contact with the pulleys, but the matrix is not in contact with the pulleys. A timing cable is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy. | 08-30-2012 |
20120223727 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION UTILIZING AN OPERATIONAL ENVELOPE - A method of controlling and/or predicting the remaining useful life of an active material actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, includes obtaining historical actuation data of an inherent system variable, such as electrical resistance, over a secondary variable, such as time, determining a normal operating envelope having upper and lower bounds based on the data, determining a current profile for a given actuation cycle, and comparing the shape of the current profile to the envelope to determine an out-of-bounds event. | 09-06-2012 |
20120241312 | SURFACE TEXTURING USING ENGINEERED STRUCTURES - Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a plurality of discrete mechanisms in communication with the reconfigurable structure. | 09-27-2012 |
20130081389 | Composite Bi-Stable Device - A deformable bi-stable device includes an elastically deformable member having at least two stable configurations and capable of being deformed from a first stable configuration to a second stable configuration, the element passing through an unstable configuration as it is deformed from the first stable configuration to the second stable configuration, and a shape memory polymer layer on or in the elastically deformable member. A method of using this device includes heating the shape memory polymer to a temperature sufficient to reduce the modulus of the shape memory polymer, deforming the deformable member to move from one of the first and second stable configurations to another of the first and second stable configurations, and cooling the device to a temperature sufficient to increase the modulus of the shape memory polymer. | 04-04-2013 |
20130081493 | METHOD OF REDUCING THE EFFECT OF PREHEAT TIME VARIATION DURING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATION - A system for and method of reducing the effects of preheat period variation in shape memory alloy actuation, include sensing the removal of motion delay due to slack, backlash, and/or compliance in the actuator and drive-train of the system, and determining actuator activation, as a result thereof. | 04-04-2013 |
20130081933 | Reconfigurable Bi-Stable Device - A reconfigurable bi-stable device includes an elastically deformable panel laterally disposed between and connected to one or more mounting members directly or indirectly connected to opposing ends of the panel, with the panel maintained under compressive force along at least one vector extending between the opposing ends. The compressive force deforms the panel into a one of two stable deformed positions, with the device disposed such that the panel may be moved between each of the two stable deformed positions by application of manual force to one of two opposing faces of the panel. A first shape memory alloy (SMA) or piezo actuator member is connected to the panel, the actuator member being capable of moving the panel from a first one of the two stable deformed positions to a second one of the two stable deformed positions. | 04-04-2013 |
20130292367 | Thermally Activated Variable Stiffness Composites for Aircraft Seals - An apparatus has a first structure, a second structure, and an activated seal. The second structure has a first position adjacent to the first structure such that the first structure is not in contact with the second structure. The activated seal is attached to at least one of the first structure and the second structure. The activated seal has a variable stiffness that may be changed in response to a stimuli such that the activated seal is capable of being deformed when at least one of the first structure and the second structure are moved relative to each other. | 11-07-2013 |
20130326863 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A LOAD CELL ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF FOLDING A CIRCUIT DEVICE - A method of manufacturing a load cell assembly and methods of folding a circuit device are disclosed. A flexible circuit body including a strip having at least one hinge is provided, with the strip being in a first position or an unfolded position. A plurality of strain gauges are attached to the strip, with the hinge disposed between the strain gauges. A jig is provided and the strip of the flexible circuit body is folded along the hinge utilizing the jig to define a second position or folded position of the strip. | 12-12-2013 |
20140042756 | LATCHABLE OR LOCKABLE DEVICE - A lockable or latchable device includes first and second members proximate to each other, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other. The device also includes a magnetorheological fluid disposed in the device such that the fluid is in simultaneous contact with at least a portion of each of the first and second members when the first and second members are in a position for locking or latching. A permanent magnet is disposed in the device to inhibit displacement of the magnetorheological fluid when the first and second members are in the locked or latched position. An electromagnet is disposed in the device such that magnetic flux from the electromagnet, when activated, disrupts the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the first and second members are in the locked or latched position to unlatch or unlock the device. | 02-13-2014 |
20140060036 | COMPENSATING FOR INCOMPLETE REVERSAL IN MECHANISMS INCORPORATING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY WIRE - Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described. | 03-06-2014 |
20140077940 | ESTIMATING THE REMAINING LIFE OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATORS - Mechanical devices powered by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires or other linear elements offer advantages in automotive applications. Such SMA-powered devices are commonly reliable and long-lived but have a finite lifetime. Measurements of the electrical resistivity of an SMA element during operation of the element may be related to the remaining lifetime of the element. Because operation of SMA elements is promoted by heating the element, usually by passage of an electric current, the resistivity measurements, and hence assessment of SMA element operation, may be made without interruption to the operation of the SMA-powered device and without addition of dedicated sensors. | 03-20-2014 |
20140096516 | INTRINSIC MONITORING OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATED DEVICES - Some on-vehicle devices, such as air dams, air spoilers, and HVAC system baffles, may have movable components that are pulled from one position to another by shrinkage of a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. Upon an activation signal, the shrinkage of the SMA actuator occurs when it is resistance heated by an electrical current. It is found that useful information concerning the overall intended operation of the on-vehicle device may be obtained by computer analysis of the temporal variation of both current flow through the actuator and its electrical resistance as it is heated to perform its function in the device. A comparison of present current flow and variation of resistance, during activation of the device, with prescribed stored values can reveal malfunction of components of the device as it is being used, in place, on the vehicle. | 04-10-2014 |
20140211826 | VEHICLE SENSOR SYSTEM - A sensor system includes a housing defining a cavity, an actuator formed from an alloy transitionable between first and second states, a plunger attached to the actuator, and a resilient member configured for translating the plunger within the cavity. The plunger is not translatable during a first condition in which a coating of debris is disposed on the housing as the alloy transitions between the first and second states to define a first stress on the actuator. The plunger is translatable during a second condition in which the housing is substantially free from the coating as the alloy transitions to define a second stress on the actuator that is less than the first stress. The alloy transitions from the first to the second state at a first transformation temperature during the first condition, and at a second transformation temperature that is less than the first temperature during the second condition. | 07-31-2014 |