公开(公告)号：US20110050148A1

公开(公告)日：2011-03-03

申请号：US12546857

申请日：2009-08-25

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Lei Hao ,  Ke Dong

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Lei Hao ,  Ke Dong

IPC分类号： G05D15/01 ,  H02N10/00

CPC分类号： H01L41/1132 ,  H01L41/125

摘要： An active material actuator adapted for use in a circuit includes an active material member, and a piezoelectric or piezoresistive element or otherwise force sensing device, wherein the element or device is communicatively coupled to the member and operable to vary the current within the circuit when the member is caused to achieve a predetermined stress, such that, in one aspect, the element presents an overload protection mechanism.

摘要翻译： 适于在电路中使用的活性材料致动器包括活性材料构件和压电或压阻元件或其他力感测装置，其中元件或装置可通信地耦合到构件并且可操作以在电路内改变电流时 导致构件达到预定的应力，使得在一个方面，元件具有过载保护机构。

公开(公告)号：US20090299502A1

公开(公告)日：2009-12-03

申请号：US12130227

申请日：2008-05-30

申请人： Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Norman K. Bucknor

发明人： Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Norman K. Bucknor

IPC分类号： G05B11/32

CPC分类号： G05B11/32

摘要： A mechanical system selectively imparts a prescribed motion to an output load using two or more actuators, including at least one having an active material element. The output load can be a locking member when the system is a vehicle transmission, a shuttle car of a linear system, or another device. A controller determines a total motive force required for imparting the prescribed motion, and selectively commands a combination of the actuators to provide the total motive force, apportioning the total motive force between the various actuators to optimize the performance of the system. An algorithm determines which combination of the actuators is the most suitable in moving the output load, and continuously modified this combination as needed as the output load is moved. The other actuator or actuators are then selectively energized as needed to provide the total motive force depending on this suitability determination.

摘要翻译： 机械系统使用两个或更多个致动器选择性地向输出负载施加规定的运动，包括至少一个具有活性材料元件的致动器。 当系统是车辆传动装置时，输出负载可以是锁定构件，线性系统的穿梭车或另一装置。 控制器确定用于施加规定运动所需的总动力，并且选择性地命令致动器的组合以提供总动力，分配各种致动器之间的总动力，以优化系统的性能。 算法确定致动器的哪个组合最适合于移动输出负载，并且在输出负载移动时根据需要连续地修改该组合。 然后根据需要选择性地激励其他致动器或致动器，以根据这种适用性确定提供总动力。

公开(公告)号：US20090277170A1

公开(公告)日：2009-11-12

申请号：US12437768

申请日：2009-05-08

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nicholas William Pinto ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Paul W. Alexander

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nicholas William Pinto ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 致动器包括热活化的活性材料构件和外部元件，所述外部元件被配置为选择性地接合所述构件并且呈现被配置为将热能传递到构件和/或从构件传递热能的预定热导率，以便减少致动周期或速率 致动后冷却，当接合时。

公开(公告)号：US07556313B2

公开(公告)日：2009-07-07

申请号：US11554753

申请日：2006-10-31

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  James Y. Khoury ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Michael G. Carpenter

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  James Y. Khoury ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Michael G. Carpenter

IPC分类号： B60N2/48 ,  B60N2/42

CPC分类号： A47C7/38 ,  B60N2/888

摘要： A headrest assembly for a seat includes a body portion having at least one padded surface positioned in substantial alignment with a seated occupant's head; and an active material in operative communication with the at least one padded surface of the body portion, the active material being operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein a space between the occupant's head and the at least one padded surface decreases with the change in the at least one attribute of the active material.

摘要翻译： 用于座椅的头枕组件包括主体部分，其具有至少一个填充表面，其被定位成与就座乘客的头部基本对齐; 以及与所述主体部分的所述至少一个填充表面可操作地通信的活性材料，所述活性材料可操作以响应于激活信号而改变至少一个属性，其中所述乘客的头部和所述至少一个填充物之间的空间 表面随活性材料的至少一个属性的变化而减小。

公开(公告)号：US09358956B2

公开(公告)日：2016-06-07

申请号：US13167070

申请日：2011-06-23

申请人： Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Scott R. Webb ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Wendell G. Summerville ,  John A. Cafeo

发明人： Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Scott R. Webb ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Wendell G. Summerville ,  John A. Cafeo

IPC分类号： B60S1/38

CPC分类号： B60S1/38 ,  B60S1/3801 ,  B60S1/3848 ,  B60S1/40 ,  B60S2001/3827 ,  B60S2001/3829 ,  B60S2001/3836

摘要： A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length, and an active material disposed along the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material includes a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite, and is elastically deformable and operatively applies a spring force against a portion of the wiper blade when the crystallographic phase is martensite.

摘要翻译： 车辆刮水器组件包括具有长度的刮水片和沿着刮水片的长度设置并与之连接的活性材料。 活性材料包括具有可在奥氏体和马氏体之间变化的结晶相的形状记忆合金材料，并且当结晶相是马氏体时，可弹性变形并且可操作地将弹簧力施加到刮片的一部分上。

公开(公告)号：US09003789B2

公开(公告)日：2015-04-14

申请号：US13340886

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Wayne Brown

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Wayne Brown

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 用于将热能转换为机械能的能量收集系统包括使用形状记忆合金活性材料操作的热机。 形状记忆合金构件可以在第一温度的热区域和低于第一温度的第二温度的冷区域热连通。 形状记忆合金材料可以被配置为选择性地改变马氏体与奥氏体之间的结晶相，从而响应于第一和第二温度而收缩和膨胀。 导热元件可以与SMA材料直接接触，其中导热元件被配置为从热区域接收热能并且通过传导将接收的热能的一部分转移到SMA材料。

公开(公告)号：US08881521B2

公开(公告)日：2014-11-11

申请号：US13587383

申请日：2012-08-16

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  D02G3/02 ,  D02G3/36 ,  E01D19/16 ,  D07B5/12 ,  D07B1/06 ,  D07B5/00

CPC分类号： D07B5/00 ,  D07B1/0673 ,  D07B5/12 ,  D07B2201/2009 ,  D07B2205/3085 ,  E01D19/16 ,  D07B2801/10

摘要： A method of reducing an initial stress on a cable includes stretching the cable to a first length to thereby define the initial stress. The cable has a central longitudinal axis, and includes a plurality of wires each twisted around the axis and formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable in response to a signal between a first state wherein each of the wires has a first temperature-dependent length, and a second state wherein each of the wires has a second temperature-dependent length that is less than the first. After stretching, the method includes activating the alloy by exposing the alloy to the signal such that the alloy transitions from the first to the second temperature-dependent state. Concurrent to activating, the method includes elongating the cable to a second length that is greater than the first to define a second stress on the cable that is less than the first.

摘要翻译： 减少电缆上的初始应力的方法包括将电缆拉伸到第一长度，从而限定初始应力。 所述电缆具有中心纵向轴线，并且包括多个电线，每个电线绕所述轴线扭转并且由形状记忆合金形成，所述形状记忆合金可响应于第一状态而可转换，所述信号处于第一状态，其中每条电线具有第一温度依赖性长度，以及 第二状态，其中每条线具有小于第一温度的第二温度依赖长度。 拉伸后，该方法包括通过将合金暴露于信号来激活合金，使得合金从第一温度依赖于第二温度依赖状态转变。 与激活同时，该方法包括将电缆延伸到大于第一长度的第二长度，以限定小于第一应力的电缆上的第二应力。

公开(公告)号：US08870144B2

公开(公告)日：2014-10-28

申请号：US11744417

申请日：2007-05-04

申请人： Pablo D. Zavattieri ,  Mark A. Kramarczyk ,  Alan L. Browne ,  James Y. Khoury ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  Senthil N. Karuppaswamy ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Rainer A. Glaser ,  Paul W. Alexander

发明人： Pablo D. Zavattieri ,  Mark A. Kramarczyk ,  Alan L. Browne ,  James Y. Khoury ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  Senthil N. Karuppaswamy ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Rainer A. Glaser ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC分类号： A47K1/08 ,  B60R7/02 ,  B60N3/12 ,  B60N3/10

CPC分类号： B60R7/02 ,  B60N3/105 ,  B60N3/108 ,  B60N3/12

摘要： In an embodiment, a device comprises an active material. Activation of the active material causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain an object without engaging the object below a surface of the object. In another embodiment, contact with an object causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain the object. In yet another embodiment, an object holder can comprise: a recess, a cover disposed over the recess, and a switch configured to cause the active material to retain a deformed shape in the recess. The cover comprises an active material. The active material is configured to deform into the recess when contacted with an object.

摘要翻译： 在一个实施例中，装置包括活性材料。 活性材料的活化导致装置内的变形以使物体符合和/或保持物体，而不将物体接合在物体表面下方。 在另一个实施例中，与对象的接触导致设备内的变形以符合和/或保持对象。 在另一个实施例中，物体保持器可以包括：凹部，设置在凹部上方的盖，以及被配置为使活性材料在凹部中保持变形形状的开关。 盖子包括活性材料。 活性材料构造成当与物体接触时变形成凹陷。

公开(公告)号：US08631652B2

公开(公告)日：2014-01-21

申请号：US12947917

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 heat engine system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes 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 heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy and includes an element 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 heat engine system also includes a start-up mechanism configured for inducing initial movement of the element in a desired operational direction to thereby start the heat engine.

摘要翻译： 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎系统包括由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提供的热能源。 热机被配置为将热能转换为机械能，并且包括由第一形状记忆合金形成的元件，该第一形状记忆合金具有响应于热源和热源之间的温度差在第一相变温度下在奥氏体和马氏体之间变化的结晶相 水槽。 热机系统还包括启动机构，其被构造成用于引导元件在期望的操作方向上的初始移动，从而起动热机。

公开(公告)号：US08627600B2

公开(公告)日：2014-01-14

申请号：US12764687

申请日：2010-04-21

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

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

IPC分类号： E05F15/02

CPC分类号： E06B9/80 ,  E05F15/42 ,  E05Y2201/43 ,  E05Y2400/53 ,  E05Y2400/81 ,  E05Y2800/67 ,  E05Y2900/00 ,  E05Y2900/106 ,  E05Y2900/531 ,  E05Y2900/55 ,  E06B2009/6836

摘要： A pinch-protection mechanism adapted for use with a closure panel and method for use of the same, said mechanism comprising at least one structural component defining an adjustable edge section manipulable between first and second configurations and an active material element coupled to the component, such that the change causes or enables the edge section to be manipulated to one of said first and second configurations, and manipulating the edge section between said first and second configurations eliminates, warns of, or mitigates a pinch condition.

摘要翻译： 适于与闭合面板一起使用的夹紧保护机构及其使用方法，所述机构包括限定可在第一和第二构造之间操作的可调节边缘部分的至少一个结构部件和联接到部件的活性材料元件， 所述变化导致或使得边缘部分能够被操纵到所述第一和第二配置中的一个，并且在所述第一和第二配置之间操纵边缘部分消除，警告或减轻挤压状况。