公开(公告)号：US20080034750A1

公开(公告)日：2008-02-14

申请号：US11501417

申请日：2006-08-09

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Ukpai I. Ukpai

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Ukpai I. Ukpai

IPC分类号： F01B29/10

CPC分类号： F03G7/065 ,  H02N2/02 ,  H02N2/10

摘要： Active material actuator assemblies are provided that enable simplified control systems and faster actuator cycle times. A movable member is provided that has multiple active material components operatively connected to it. The active material components are separately selectively activatable for moving the movable member. Movement of the movable member via activation of a first of the active material components triggers activation of the second active material component to further move the movable member. Alternatively or in addition, previously activated active material components are protected from undesired stretching during activation of another active material component or, when desired, an active material component may be reset via activation of another of the active material components in order to prepare it for subsequent activation.

摘要翻译： 提供了主动材料致动器组件，其实现简化的控制系统和更快的致动器循环时间 提供了具有可操作地连接到其上的多个活性材料部件的可移动部件。 活性材料组分可分开选择性活化，以移动可动件。 通过激活第一活性材料组件来移动可移动部件触发第二活性材料部件的启动，以进一步移动可移动部件。 或者或另外，预先活化的活性材料组分在另一种活性材料组分的活化期间被保护而不受不期望的拉伸，或者当需要时，活性材料组分可以通过另一种活性材料组分的活化来复位，以便随后 激活。

公开(公告)号：US20070243810A1

公开(公告)日：2007-10-18

申请号：US11734297

申请日：2007-04-12

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Robin Stevenson ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  James Bloomsburgh ,  John Czoykowski ,  Neal Parsons ,  Jason R. Spenny

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Robin Stevenson ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  James Bloomsburgh ,  John Czoykowski ,  Neal Parsons ,  Jason R. Spenny

IPC分类号： B60H1/34

CPC分类号： B60H1/3421 ,  B60H1/00871 ,  B60H1/3414 ,  B60H2001/3471

摘要： A vent includes a vane configured for spatial movement, and at least one actuator in operative communication with the vane configured to spatially move the vane in at least one direction, wherein the actuator comprises an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively change an orientation of the vane.

摘要翻译： 排气口包括构造成用于空间运动的叶片，以及至少一个致动器，其与所述叶片可操作地连通，构造成在至少一个方向上空间地移动所述叶片，其中所述致动器包括被配置为经历至少一个性质的变化的活性材料 在接收到激活信号时，其中至少一个属性的改变有效地选择性地改变叶片的取向。

公开(公告)号：US08857174B2

公开(公告)日：2014-10-14

申请号：US12947870

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Xiujie Gao

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Xiujie Gao

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F02G5/04

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a plurality of discrete elements of a shape memory alloy each having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to a temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one member of the heat engine is driven to rotate about a first axis by the phase change of the plurality of discrete elements.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度的第一区域和具有第二温度的第二区域。 热机被配置为将热能转换成机械能。 热引擎包括形状记忆合金的多个离散元件，每个元件具有响应于第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差而在奥氏体和马氏体之间具有可变化的结晶相。 通过多个离散元件的相位变化，驱动热发动机的至少一个构件绕第一轴旋转。

公开(公告)号：US08821224B2

公开(公告)日：2014-09-02

申请号：US12612112

申请日：2009-11-04

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

IPC分类号： B24D13/00 ,  B60H1/00 ,  B61D27/00 ,  B63J2/00

CPC分类号： B60J9/04 ,  B60H1/00735 ,  B60H1/241 ,  B60H1/249

摘要： A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

摘要翻译： 排气组件设置在车辆的内部空间内，用于打开和关闭内部空间和车辆外部之间的流体连通。 通气组件包括限定多个开口的壳体和设置在开口中的多个叶片。 致动器机构使叶片在打开位置和关闭位置之间移动，并且包括用于在打开位置和关闭位置之间致动叶片的成形记忆合金（SMA）构件。 当车辆的舱口打开以将叶片移动到打开位置并且由此打开内部空间和外部之间的流体连通以减轻在舱口闭合期间过度的空气压力积聚时，SMA构件被激活。

公开(公告)号：US08607744B2

公开(公告)日：2013-12-17

申请号：US12344376

申请日：2008-12-26

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Thomas H. Froling ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Matthew D. Scrase ,  Clifford Jason Yee ,  Evan P. Joranlien ,  Mark D. Dickens ,  Arnold G Warner ,  Laurence M Lemaire

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Thomas H. Froling ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Matthew D. Scrase ,  Clifford Jason Yee ,  Evan P. Joranlien ,  Mark D. Dickens ,  Arnold G Warner ,  Laurence M Lemaire

IPC分类号： F01P7/02

CPC分类号： F02M35/161 ,  F02B27/001 ,  F02B27/005 ,  F02B27/0284 ,  F02M35/10013 ,  F02M35/10301 ,  F02M35/1034 ,  F02M35/104 ,  Y02T10/146

摘要： An active air intake adapted for selectively regulating fluid flow into an engine generally includes a housing defining an opening, a covering member disposed relative to the opening and translatable between opened and closed conditions, an actuator including an active material element operable to effect movement of the member, a load limit protector configured to present a secondary output path for the element, an overheat protection mechanism for preventing unintentional activation and stress loads in the element, a biasing mechanism for returning the member to the original condition, and a latching mechanism for retaining the member in the closed condition.

摘要翻译： 适于选择性地调节流入发动机的流体的主动进气口通常包括限定开口的壳体，相对于开口设置并可在打开和关闭状态之间平移的盖构件，包括活动材料元件的致动器，其可操作以实现 构件，其构造成呈现所述元件的次级输出路径，用于防止所述元件中的无意激活和应力负载的过热保护机构，用于使所述构件返回到原始状态的偏置机构，以及用于保持 该成员处于关闭状态。

公开(公告)号：US20100332035A1

公开(公告)日：2010-12-30

申请号：US12814841

申请日：2010-06-14

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

IPC分类号： G05B9/02

CPC分类号： G05B9/02

摘要： A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least the overload retry threshold.

摘要翻译： 一种用于执行机械过载保护的方法，以防止在检测到线性致动器的过载状况时对线性致动器进行机械过载的线性致动器的控制信号，用于控制与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的线性致动器响应 对于控制信号，包括在积分期间基于与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的位置变化以及在积分期间内的过剩能量来监视过载状态，当已经检测到过载状况时，使线性致动器断电 基于检测到过载条件的循环次数的过载重试计数器，将过载重试计数器与过载重试阈值进行比较，当过载重试计数器小于过载重试阈值并重新激活线性致动器时， 线性执行机构过载时 尝试计数器至少是过载重试阈值。

公开(公告)号：US08744603B2

公开(公告)日：2014-06-03

申请号：US12814841

申请日：2010-06-14

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

IPC分类号： G05B11/01 ,  G05B9/02 ,  G05D1/10

CPC分类号： G05B9/02

摘要： A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least the overload retry threshold.

摘要翻译： 一种用于执行机械过载保护的方法，以防止在检测到线性致动器的过载状况时机械地使线性致动器过载的线性致动器的控制信号，用于控制与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的线性致动器响应 对于控制信号，包括在积分期间基于与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的位置变化以及在积分期间内的过剩能量来监视过载状态，当已经检测到过载状况时，使线性致动器断电 基于检测到过载条件的循环次数的过载重试计数器，将过载重试计数器与过载重试阈值进行比较，当过载重试计数器小于过载重试阈值时，重新激活线性致动器，并保持断电 线性执行机构过载时 尝试计数器至少是过载重试阈值。

公开(公告)号：US20110120113A1

公开(公告)日：2011-05-26

申请号：US12947870

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Xiujie Gao

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Xiujie Gao

IPC分类号： F02G1/04

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a plurality of discrete elements of a shape memory alloy each having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to a temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one member of the heat engine is driven to rotate about a first axis by the phase change of the plurality of discrete elements.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度的第一区域和具有第二温度的第二区域。 热机被配置为将热能转换成机械能。 热引擎包括形状记忆合金的多个离散元件，每个元件具有响应于第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差而在奥氏体和马氏体之间具有可变化的结晶相。 通过多个离散元件的相位变化，驱动热发动机的至少一个构件绕第一轴旋转。

公开(公告)号：US20090173305A1

公开(公告)日：2009-07-09

申请号：US12344376

申请日：2008-12-26

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Thomas H. Froling ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Matthew D. Scrase ,  Clifford Jason Yee ,  Evan P. Joranlien ,  Mark D. Dickens ,  Arnold G. Warner ,  Laurence M. Lemaire

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Thomas H. Froling ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Matthew D. Scrase ,  Clifford Jason Yee ,  Evan P. Joranlien ,  Mark D. Dickens ,  Arnold G. Warner ,  Laurence M. Lemaire

IPC分类号： F02M35/104

CPC分类号： F02M35/161 ,  F02B27/001 ,  F02B27/005 ,  F02B27/0284 ,  F02M35/10013 ,  F02M35/10301 ,  F02M35/1034 ,  F02M35/104 ,  Y02T10/146

摘要： An active air intake adapted for selectively regulating fluid flow into an engine generally includes a housing defining an opening, a covering member disposed relative to the opening and translatable between opened and closed conditions, an actuator including an active material element operable to effect movement of the member, a load limit protector configured to present a secondary output path for the element, an overheat protection mechanism for preventing unintentional activation and stress loads in the element, a biasing mechanism for returning the member to the original condition, and a latching mechanism for retaining the member in the closed condition.

摘要翻译： 适于选择性地调节流入发动机的流体的主动进气口通常包括限定开口的壳体，相对于开口设置并可在打开和关闭状态之间平移的盖构件，包括活动材料元件的致动器，其可操作以实现 构件，其构造成呈现所述元件的次级输出路径，用于防止所述元件中的无意激活和应力负载的过热保护机构，用于使所述构件返回到原始状态的偏置机构，以及用于保持 该成员处于关闭状态。

公开(公告)号：US08800282B2

公开(公告)日：2014-08-12

申请号：US12947932

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Marten Wittorf

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Marten Wittorf

IPC分类号： F02G1/04 ,  F01B29/10

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region and a second region having a temperature difference therebetween. A heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a first discrete element of a shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. The first discrete element of the shape memory alloy expands and contracts in response to the phase change to exert a linear force. A motion conversion mechanism is operatively connected to the first discrete element to be driven by the linear force and a component is driven by the motion conversion mechanism.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括第一区域和第二区域之间的温差。 热机被配置为将热能转换成机械能。 热机包括响应于第一区域和第二区域之间的温差而具有在奥氏体和马氏体之间可变的结晶相的形状记忆合金的第一离散元件。 形状记忆合金的第一分立元件响应于相变而膨胀和收缩以施加线性力。 运动转换机构可操作地连接到要由线性力驱动的第一分立元件，并且部件由运动转换机构驱动。