公开(公告)号：US06247678B1

公开(公告)日：2001-06-19

申请号：US09431694

申请日：1999-11-01

申请人： Antonio Hines ,  Theodore J. Gausman ,  William H. Glime ,  Steven H. Hill ,  Bruce S. Rigsby

发明人： Antonio Hines ,  Theodore J. Gausman ,  William H. Glime ,  Steven H. Hill ,  Bruce S. Rigsby

IPC分类号： F16K3164

CPC分类号： F16K31/002 ,  F03G7/065 ,  F16K31/025 ,  Y10T29/49071 ,  Y10T29/49156

摘要： A fluid control valve having a shaped memory alloy (SMA) driven actuator is disclosed. The SMA driven actuator includes a first frame section coupled to a valve body and fixed in relation thereto, a second frame section coupled to a movable element of the valve body and movable in relation to the valve body, and a multiplicity of SMA wire sections coupling the first and second frame sections for moving the movable element from a biased first position to a second position when heated. An electrical controller controls the heating of the SMA wire sections by regulating current therethrough, preferably using pulse width modulation techniques. The electrical controller may be governed by a position measurement signal proportional to the position of the movable element to regulate current to the SMA drive element to position the movable element to a desired position. The position measuring signal may be provided from a position measuring element integral to the valve actuator. The valve actuator may also include a temperature controller governed by an electrical temperature signal provided by a temperature-sensing device in proximity to the SMA drive element to activate a cooling device for reducing the temperature surrounding the SMA drive element when activated. A digital selector switch may be used for generating a digital code of a selected heating rate which may govern the electrical controller to regulate current to the SMA drive element. The electrical controller may also be governed by both a position measurement and a temperature signal to regulate current to the SMA drive element and to control the cooling device to position the movable element to a desired position. The actuator may include at least one bobbin that is wound with a multiplicity of wire windings. A conductive material may be applied to the surface of grooved sections of the bobbin onto which the SMA wire windings are wound. Alternatively, the SMA wire may be coated with a conductive material and then wound about the bobbin and thereafter, the conductive material may be removed from the surface of the SMA wire not in contact with the bobbin.

公开(公告)号：US06464200B2

公开(公告)日：2002-10-15

申请号：US09832584

申请日：2001-04-11

申请人： Antonio Hines ,  Theodore J. Gausman ,  William H. Glime ,  Steven H. Hill ,  Bruce S. Rigsby

发明人： Antonio Hines ,  Theodore J. Gausman ,  William H. Glime ,  Steven H. Hill ,  Bruce S. Rigsby

IPC分类号： F16K3164

CPC分类号： F16K31/002 ,  F03G7/065 ,  F16K31/025 ,  Y10T29/49071 ,  Y10T29/49156

摘要： An electrically controlled fluid control valve comprises an electrical position controller governed by a signal proportional to the position of a movable element of the valve to regulate current to a shape memory alloy (SMA) valve actuator to position the movable element to a desired position. The control valve may also include a temperature controller governed by a signal provided by a temperature-sensing element in proximity to the valve actuator to activate a cooling device for reducing the surrounding temperature. A digital selector switch may be used for generating a digital code of a selected heating rate which may govern the electrical controller to regulate current to the SMA drive element. The electrical controller may also be governed by both position measurement and a temperature signals to regulate current to the SMA valve actuator and to control the cooling device to position the movable element to a desired position.

摘要翻译： 电控流体控制阀包括电位置控制器，其由与阀的可移动元件的位置成比例的信号控制，以将电流调节到形状记忆合金（SMA）阀致动器以将可移动元件定位到期望位置。 控制阀还可以包括由靠近阀致动器的温度感测元件提供的信号控制的温度控制器，以激活用于降低周围温度的冷却装置。 数字选择器开关可以用于产生选择的加热速率的数字代码，其可以控制电气控制器以调节到SMA驱动元件的电流。 电气控制器还可以通过位置测量和温度信号来控制，以调节到SMA阀致动器的电流并且控制冷却装置将可移动元件定位到期望位置。