公开(公告)号：US09038983B2

公开(公告)日：2015-05-26

申请号：US12913224

申请日：2010-10-27

申请人： Craig A. Kollar ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Shawn G. Quinn ,  Milind S. Gandhi ,  Scott R. Webb

发明人： Craig A. Kollar ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Shawn G. Quinn ,  Milind S. Gandhi ,  Scott R. Webb

IPC分类号： F16K31/00 ,  F16K31/02

CPC分类号： F16K31/025

摘要： A drain plug assembly that has particular application for sealing a drain hole in a high voltage battery compartment on a vehicle. The plug assembly includes a plug that inserted into the drain hole. The plug assembly further includes a return spring coupled to the plug and causing the plug to be biased into the drain hole. The plug assembly also includes at least one shape memory alloy device coupled to the plug and a support structure. The SMA device receives an electrical current that causes the device to contract and move the plug out of the drain hole against the bias of the return spring.

摘要翻译： 一种排水塞组件，其特别用于密封车辆上的高压电池舱中的排水孔。 插头组件包括插入到排水孔中的插头。 插头组件还包括联接到插头的复位弹簧并使插头偏置到排水孔中。 插头组件还包括耦合到插头和支撑结构的至少一个形状记忆合金装置。 SMA装置接收电流，导致装置收缩并抵抗回位弹簧的偏压将插头从排水孔移出。

公开(公告)号：US08773835B2

公开(公告)日：2014-07-08

申请号：US13421828

申请日：2012-03-15

申请人： Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Pablo D. Zavattieri

发明人： Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Pablo D. Zavattieri

IPC分类号： H01H47/00

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A system for and method of providing overload protection for an active material actuator, includes a magnetically functioning mechanism comprising, for example, one or more permanent or electromagnets, and/or magnetorheological fluid, and configured to produce a holding force less than the capacity of the actuator, and more preferably, a modifiable holding force responsive to load influencing conditions.

摘要翻译： 提供用于活性材料致动器的过载保护的系统和方法包括磁功能机构，其包括例如一个或多个永久或电磁体和/或磁流变流体，并且被配置为产生小于 致动器，并且更优选地，响应负载影响条件的可修改的保持力。

公开(公告)号：US08741076B2

公开(公告)日：2014-06-03

申请号：US13177599

申请日：2011-07-07

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Wayne Brown

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Wayne Brown

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A device and method for controlling a phase transformation temperature of a shape memory alloy is provided. The device includes a primary wire composed of the shape memory alloy. The primary wire defines first and second ends, the first end being attached to a fixed structure and the second end being able to displace. An activation source is thermally coupled to the wire and is operable to selectively cause the primary wire to reversibly transform from a Martensitic phase to an Austenitic phase during a cycle. A loading element is operatively connected to the primary wire and configured to selectively increase a tensile load on the primary wire when an ambient temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, thereby increasing the phase transformation temperature of the primary wire.

摘要翻译： 提供一种用于控制形状记忆合金的相变温度的装置和方法。 该装置包括由形状记忆合金构成的初级线。 主线限定第一端和第二端，第一端附接到固定结构，第二端能够移位。 激活源热耦合到导线，并且可操作地选择性地使主线在一个循环期间从马氏体相可逆地转变成奥氏体相。 负载元件可操作地连接到主线，并且被配置为当环境温度处于或高于阈值温度时选择性地增加主线上的拉伸负载，从而增加初级线的相变温度。

公开(公告)号：US08701405B2

公开(公告)日：2014-04-22

申请号：US12947924

申请日：2010-11-17

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

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

IPC分类号： F01B29/10

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A method of starting a heat engine includes exposing an element of the heat engine to a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a heat source having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The element is formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink. The method further includes changing the crystallographic phase of the first shape memory alloy to thereby convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, and inducing initial movement of the element in a desired operational direction to thereby start the heat engine.

摘要翻译： 启动热机的方法包括将热机的元件暴露于具有第一温度的热源和具有低于第一温度的第二温度的散热器之间的温度差的热能源。 该元件由第一形状记忆合金形成，该合金具有响应于热源和散热器之间的温差而在第一相变温度下具有在奥氏体和马氏体之间变化的结晶相。 该方法还包括改变第一形状记忆合金的结晶相，从而将热能转化为机械能，并引起元件在期望的操作方向的初始移动，从而起动热机。

公开(公告)号：US20140060036A1

公开(公告)日：2014-03-06

申请号：US13600337

申请日：2012-08-31

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher B. Churchill ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Paul W. Alexander

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher B. Churchill ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F01P7/10 ,  F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 形状记忆合金（SMA）致动元件通常比替代致动器设计更简单并且质量更低，并且可以在运输行业中找到特定应用。 这种SMA供电的设备通常是可靠的和长寿命的，但SMA合金中发生的并且对其效用负责的相变不是完全可逆的。 这种不可逆转性是不可恢复的应变的结果，随着不可恢复的应变在许多操作循环中积累，可能逐渐降低长期致动器性能。 描述了用于补偿这些影响并延长SMA致动器的有用循环寿命的方法和装置。

公开(公告)号：US20120104292A1

公开(公告)日：2012-05-03

申请号：US12913224

申请日：2010-10-27

申请人： Craig A. Kollar ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Shawn G. Quinn ,  Milind S. Gandhi ,  Scott R. Webb

发明人： Craig A. Kollar ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Shawn G. Quinn ,  Milind S. Gandhi ,  Scott R. Webb

IPC分类号： F16K31/00

CPC分类号： F16K31/025

摘要： A drain plug assembly that has particular application for sealing a drain hole in a high voltage battery compartment on a vehicle. The plug assembly includes a plug that inserted into the drain hole. The plug assembly further includes a return spring coupled to the plug and causing the plug to be biased into the drain hole. The plug assembly also includes at least one shape memory alloy device coupled to the plug and a support structure. The SMA device receives an electrical current that causes the device to contract and move the plug out of the drain hole against the bias of the return spring.

摘要翻译： 一种排水塞组件，其特别用于密封车辆上的高压电池舱中的排水孔。 插头组件包括插入到排水孔中的插头。 插头组件还包括联接到插头的复位弹簧并使插头偏置到排水孔中。 插头组件还包括耦合到插头和支撑结构的至少一个形状记忆合金装置。 SMA装置接收电流，导致装置收缩并抵抗回位弹簧的偏压将插头从排水孔移出。

公开(公告)号：US20110120117A1

公开(公告)日：2011-05-26

申请号：US12947924

申请日：2010-11-17

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

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

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A method of starting a heat engine includes exposing an element of the heat engine to a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a heat source having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The element is formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink. The method further includes changing the crystallographic phase of the first shape memory alloy to thereby convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, and inducing initial movement of the element in a desired operational direction to thereby start the heat engine.

摘要翻译： 启动热机的方法包括将热机的元件暴露于具有第一温度的热源和具有低于第一温度的第二温度的散热器之间的温度差的热能源。 该元件由第一形状记忆合金形成，该合金具有响应于热源和散热器之间的温差而在第一相变温度下具有在奥氏体和马氏体之间变化的结晶相。 该方法还包括改变第一形状记忆合金的结晶相，从而将热能转化为机械能，并引起元件在期望的操作方向的初始移动，从而起动热机。

公开(公告)号：US08540297B2

公开(公告)日：2013-09-24

申请号：US12558515

申请日：2009-09-12

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Matthew Edward Gedris ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Thomas Goscicki ,  James Holbrook Brown

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Matthew Edward Gedris ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Thomas Goscicki ,  James Holbrook Brown

IPC分类号： B60R7/04

CPC分类号： B60N3/102 ,  B60N2/773 ,  B60N2/793 ,  B60R7/04

摘要： A center console comprising a manipulable structural component, such as a pivotal lid, sliding armrest, tambour door, or pivotal cup holder, and at least one active material actuator including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change, drivenly coupled to the component, and configured to autonomously cause and/or enable the component to be manipulated as a result of the change.

摘要翻译： 中心控制台包括可操纵的结构部件，例如枢转盖，滑动扶手，鼓形门或枢转杯保持器，以及至少一个活动材料致动器，其包括可操作以经受可逆变化的活动材料致动器，该活动材料元件被驱动地联接到部件 并且被配置为自主地引起和/或使该组件作为改变的结果被操纵。

公开(公告)号：US09038379B2

公开(公告)日：2015-05-26

申请号：US12908191

申请日：2010-10-20

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： A method of controlling an energy harvesting system that converts excess thermal energy into mechanical energy and includes a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) member, includes obtaining current operational parameters of the energy harvesting system, such as a maximum temperature, a minimum temperature and a cycle frequency of the SMA member. The current operational parameters are compared to a target operating condition of the energy harvesting system to determine if the current operational parameters are within a pre-defined range of the target operating condition. If the current operational parameters are not within the pre-defined range of the target operating condition, then a heat transfer rate to, a heat transfer rate from or a cycle frequency of the SMA member is adjusted to maintain operation of the energy harvesting system within the pre-defined range of the target operating condition to maximize efficiency of the energy harvesting system.

摘要翻译： 一种控制能量收集系统的方法，其将过剩的热能转换成机械能并且包括形状记忆合金（SMA）构件，包括获得能量收集系统的当前操作参数，例如最高温度，最低温度和循环 SMA部件的频率。 将当前操作参数与能量收集系统的目标操作条件进行比较，以确定当前操作参数是否在目标操作条件的预定义范围内。 如果当前的操作参数不在目标操作条件的预定范围内，则调整传热速率，从SMA构件的传热速率或循环频率，以维持能量收集系统的运行 目标操作条件的预定义范围，以最大限度地提高能量收集系统的效率。

公开(公告)号：US08446065B2

公开(公告)日：2013-05-21

申请号：US12979365

申请日：2010-12-28

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Jan H. Aase ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Xiujie Gao

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Jan H. Aase ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Xiujie Gao

IPC分类号： H01L41/08

CPC分类号： F15B15/10 ,  F03G7/065 ,  F15B2015/208

摘要： A tubular actuator including a flexible tube or roll, operable to shift between first and second configurations so as to define a stroke, and utilizing active material activation to produce, modify, and/or retain the stroke.

摘要翻译： 一种管状致动器，包括柔性管或辊，可操作以在第一和第二构型之间移动以限定行程，并且利用活性材料活化来产生，修改和/或保留冲程。