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：US09127483B2

公开(公告)日：2015-09-08

申请号：US13570323

申请日：2012-08-09

申请人： Shivaram Ac ,  Vidyashankar R. Buravalla ,  Paul W. Alexander

发明人： Shivaram Ac ,  Vidyashankar R. Buravalla ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC分类号： F03G7/06 ,  E05B47/00 ,  E05B83/30

CPC分类号： E05B47/0009 ,  E05B83/30 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： A device for cycling a component between a first condition and a second condition includes an element and a reset apparatus connected to and driven by the element. The element is formed from a shape memory alloy, wherein the alloy is transitionable between a martensite crystallographic phase and an austenite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal energy source. The apparatus is actuatable by the element from an initial state in which the alloy has the martensite phase and the component is in the first condition, to an actuated state in which the alloy has the austenite phase and the component is in the second condition. The apparatus is resettable from the actuated state to a reset state in which the alloy transitions from the austenite to the martensite phase while the component is in the first condition, and further resettable from the reset state to the initial state.

摘要翻译： 用于在第一状态和第二状态之间循环部件的装置包括连接到元件并由该元件驱动的元件和复位装置。 该元件由形状记忆合金形成，其中该合金可响应于热能源而在马氏体晶相和奥氏体晶相之间是可转变的。 该装置可以通过元件从其中合金具有马氏体相并且部件处于第一状态的初始状态致动到合金具有奥氏体相并且部件处于第二状态的致动状态。 该装置可以从致动状态复位到复合状态，其中合金从奥氏体转变为马氏体相，同时部件处于第一状态，并且还可以从复位状态复位到初始状态。

公开(公告)号：US08894142B2

公开(公告)日：2014-11-25

申请号：US12830311

申请日：2010-07-03

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Rainer A. Glaser ,  James Y. Khoury ,  Michael G. Carpenter ,  Leigh A. Berger ,  Jennifer P. Lawall

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Rainer A. Glaser ,  James Y. Khoury ,  Michael G. Carpenter ,  Leigh A. Berger ,  Jennifer P. Lawall

IPC分类号： B60N2/48 ,  B60R21/02

CPC分类号： B60N2/4873 ,  B60N2/876

摘要： An active headrest adapted for use with a rear seat, including a translatable, conformable, or otherwise reconfigurable shell, an active material actuator disposed within and drivenly coupled to the shell, and preferably including a linkage system fixedly coupled to the seat and/or shell, wherein the actuator is operable to cause the headrest to achieve one of a plurality of achievable positions.

摘要翻译： 一种适用于后座的活动头枕，包括可平移，顺应或可重新配置的外壳，活动材料致动器，其设置在壳体内并被驱动地联接到壳体上，并且优选地包括固定地联接到座椅和/或壳体的连杆系统 ，其中所述致动器可操作以使所述头枕实现多个可实现位置中的一个。

公开(公告)号：US08800283B2

公开(公告)日：2014-08-12

申请号：US13340897

申请日：2011-12-30

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

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

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 形状记忆合金（SMA）热机包括第一可旋转滑轮，第二可旋转滑轮和围绕第一和第二可旋转滑轮设置的热材料区域与冷区域之间的SMA材料。 启动和操作SMA热机的方法包括使用控制器检测热区和冷区之间的热能梯度，将发电机与第一和第二可旋转滑轮中的一个相分离，监测SMA材料的速度约 第一和第二可旋转滑轮，并且如果SMA材料的监测速度超过阈值，则重新接合被驱动部件。 SMA材料可以选择性地改变马氏体和奥氏体之间以及热区域和冷区域之间的结晶相，以将热梯度转化为机械能。

公开(公告)号：US08789314B2

公开(公告)日：2014-07-29

申请号：US12420144

申请日：2009-04-08

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Diann Brei ,  Jonathan E. Luntz ,  Monica Cristina Toma ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Diann Brei ,  Jonathan E. Luntz ,  Monica Cristina Toma ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC分类号： E06B7/205

CPC分类号： B60J10/84 ,  B60J10/244 ,  B60J10/246 ,  B60J10/248

摘要： Active seal architectures adapted for producing a variable sealing and/or closing force between a closure panel and perimeter, includes a mounting clip, a flexible outer layer fixedly connected to the clip, defining an interior space, and longitudinally extending along the perimeter; and an interior structure comprising and reconfigurable by an active material disposed within the space, and operable to impart differing first and second forces upon the layer and panel when the material is activated and deactivated respectively.

摘要翻译： 适于在闭合面板和周边之间产生可变密封和/或闭合力的主动密封结构包括安装夹，固定地连接到夹子的柔性外层，限定内部空间，并且沿着周边纵向延伸; 以及内部结构，其包括通过设置在所述空间内的活性材料来重构和可重新配置，并且当所述材料分别被激活和去激活时，可操作地在所述层和面板上赋予不同的第一和第二力。

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。