Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a displacement mechanism which can obtain a large curved angle utilizing shape-memory alloy wires with small displacement.SOLUTION: The mechanism includes a first pipe having a first fixing part and a first connection part, a second pipe having a second fixing part and a second connection part, a shape-memory member firmly fixed to the first fixing part and the second fixing part, and a connection member to connect the first connection part with the second connection part mechanically. The first pipe and the second pipe rotate around a first connection part and second connection part respectively. A prescribed formula: LD1>LD2 is satisfied, where a distance between the first connection part and the second connection part is LD1, and the maximum value of the distance between the center of the first fixing part and the center of the second fixing part is LD0.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a displacement mechanism allowing acquisition of a large curve angle by practically using small displacement of a shape-memory alloy wire.SOLUTION: This displacement mechanism wherein a first pipe and a second pipe turn around a connection part includes: the first pipe having a fixing part; the second pipe having a fixing part, and connected to the first pipe through the connection part; and the shape-memory member firmly fixed to the fixing part of the first pipe and the fixing part of the second pipe. About each of the first pipe and the second pipe, a distance D1 in a radial direction between the centers of the connection part and the fixing part, and a distance D0 from the center of the fixing part to a position most distant from the fixing part of the peripheral surface of the pipe satisfy the following formula (1): D0-D1>D1.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe and stable power generation method which generates electricity without using fuel like thermal power generation, does not generate carbon dioxide, and does not bring about radioactive contamination like nuclear power generation in consideration of clean global environment.SOLUTION: At first, tin, other metal, a mineral, or the like is melted by a large-sized IH cooker 2 by use of external electricity, a pressure container 4 for generating hot water or steam is installed therein, and a dynamo 6 is rotated by use of the generated steam to generate electricity. When power generation starts, external power is not required, the system is run by the generated electricity, and the continuous power generation is attained.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary actuator which can be easily controlled.SOLUTION: Operation bodies 11-14 comprising shape-memory alloy 11a-14a, joint bodies 11b-14a and piezoelectric elements 11c-14c are disposed at regular intervals around an output shaft 20. First, a set of opposing operation bodies 11, 12 and a set of opposing operation bodies 13, 14 are operated to approach the output shaft 20 alternately, piezoelectric elements 11c, 12c of the approached set are pushed against a blade 22 of the output shaft 20 to rotate the output shaft 20 and, subsequently, the other set of the piezoelectric elements 13c, 14c are caused to approach the output shaft and are pushed against the blade 22 of the output shaft 20 to rotate the output shaft 20. Thus, one set of shape-memory alloy 11a-14a and the other set of shape-memory alloy are caused to alternately assume a contraction state, and by performing electricity conduction control on the piezoelectric elements 11c to 14c, inner end parts of piezoelectric elements of a set assuming an elongation state are curved to depart from the output shaft to the same direction seen from the outer end sides of the piezoelectric elements and the output shaft 20 is rotated and, therefore, the control is facilitated.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermo-magnetic engine apparatus having high efficiency.SOLUTION: Magnetic bodies 49, 59 of a reversible thermo-magnetic cycle apparatuses 2 reduced in magnetism when a temperature exceeds a Curie temperature, and increased in magnetism when the temperature is below the Curie temperature. A pump 30 heats the magnetic bodies by pumping working water from a high-temperature end to a low-temperature end, and cools the magnetic bodies by pumping working water from the low-temperature end to the high-temperature end. Permanent magnets 45, 55 are rotated attributable to the change in the magnetism caused by the heating and the cooling, and function as a thermo-magnetic engine apparatuses. The magnetic body is also a magneto-caloric element which generates heat by being applied with an external magnetic field, and absorbs the heat by removing the external magnetic field. The pump 30 pumps working water from the low-temperature end to the high-temperature end when the external magnetic field is applied to the magneto-caloric element, and pumps working water from the high-temperature end to the low-temperature end when the external magnetic field is removed from the magneto-caloric element. A temperature distribution is generated attributable to the heat generation and the heat absorption caused by changing the magnetic fields, and thus a magneto-caloric effect type heat pump apparatus is provided.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for reducing variation in displacement of objects moved by SMA wires, among individual actuators manufactured.SOLUTION: A driving device has an actuator that moves an object by utilizing shape restoring force generated by a temperature change in a shape memory alloy wire tightly stretched from a first fixing part to a second fixing part. A method for manufacturing the driving device comprises the steps of: maintaining the shape memory alloy wire to be in an extended state before fixing the shape memory alloy wire to the first fixing part and second fixing part; heating the shape memory alloy wire in the extended state in the extending step; and fixing the shape memory alloy wire at the first fixing part and second fixing part in the state where tensile force given to the shape memory alloy wire in the extending step is adjusted so that the shape memory alloy wire made into a predetermined heated state in the heating step can keep the object at a predetermined position.