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：US08590303B2

公开(公告)日：2013-11-26

申请号：US12947872

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F02G3/00 ,  F01N3/02 ,  F01N5/02

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 conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region.

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。 管道至少部分地位于第一区域内。 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎包括形成至少一个大体上连续的环的形状记忆合金。 形状记忆合金配置成与第一区域和第二区域热交换接触。 载体围绕导管，使得载体被驱动以响应于第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差由形状记忆合金围绕导管旋转。

公开(公告)号：US20120198835A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-09

申请号：US13443989

申请日：2012-04-11

申请人： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Robin Stevenson ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

发明人： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Robin Stevenson ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  B23P11/00

CPC分类号： F16G11/02 ,  F03G7/065 ,  Y10T29/49826 ,  Y10T403/21 ,  Y10T403/217

摘要： An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.

摘要翻译： 活性材料丝丝致动器（例如形状记忆合金线）和结构之间的加强组合和加强方法包括固定到致动器上或与致动器一体形成的放大形状的产生和接合。

公开(公告)号：US20120137672A1

公开(公告)日：2012-06-07

申请号：US13371441

申请日：2012-02-12

申请人： Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Andrew M. Mance ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Marten Wittorf

发明人： Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Andrew M. Mance ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Marten Wittorf

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.

摘要翻译： 使用无线能量传输激活热致动的活性材料致动器的致动组件和激活方法。

公开(公告)号：US09003788B2

公开(公告)日：2015-04-14

申请号：US12947866

申请日：2010-11-17

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

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

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. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度和第二区域的第一区域。 管道至少部分地位于第一区域内。 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎包括形成至少一个大体上连续的环的形状记忆合金。 形状记忆合金配置成与第一区域和第二区域热交换接触。 通过形状记忆合金对第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差的响应，形状记忆合金被驱动以围绕导管的至少一部分旋转。 至少一个滑轮由形状记忆合金的旋转驱动，并且至少一个皮带轮可操作地连接到部件，从而驱动部件。

公开(公告)号：US08607562B2

公开(公告)日：2013-12-17

申请号：US13340955

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  James Ryan Yates

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  James Ryan Yates

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.

摘要翻译： 热引擎包括与第一可旋转滑轮间隔开的第一可旋转滑轮和第二可旋转滑轮。 形状记忆合金（SMA）元件以SMA滑轮比围绕滑轮的各个部分设置。 SMA元件包括第一弹簧线圈和第一弹簧线圈内的第一纤芯。 定时电缆以与SMA滑轮比不同的正时皮带轮比设置在绕滑轮的各个部分周围设置。 SMA元件将热区域和冷区域之间的热能梯度转换为机械能。

公开(公告)号：US20120216526A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-30

申请号：US13340942

申请日：2011-12-30

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

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

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element.

摘要翻译： 与热区域和冷区域热连通的能量收集系统包括与热区域热连通的热端热机，与冷区域热连通的冷端热机，以及设置在冷区域之间的中间热机 热端热机和冷端热机。 热端热机包括热端形状记忆合金（SMA）元件，冷端热机包括设置的冷端SMA元件，中间热机包括中间SMA元件。 中间SMA元件的热侧与热端SMA元件的冷侧热连通。 中间SMA元件的冷侧与冷端SMA元件的热侧热连通。

公开(公告)号：US20120216523A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-30

申请号：US13340892

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 ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W. Brown ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  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 ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W. Brown ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Richard J. Skurkis

IPC分类号： 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 driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller.

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。 诸如发电机的被驱动部件可以通过耦合装置选择性地与热力发动机耦合，耦合装置可以通过控制器来控制。

公开(公告)号：US20130240096A1

公开(公告)日：2013-09-19

申请号：US13422952

申请日：2012-03-16

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi

IPC分类号： F16K31/00 ,  C21D8/00 ,  C22F1/00

CPC分类号： F16K31/002 ,  C21D8/00 ,  C21D2201/01 ,  C21D2211/001 ,  C21D2211/008 ,  C22C19/03 ,  C22F1/00 ,  C22F1/006 ,  C22F1/10 ,  C22F1/183

摘要： A shape memory alloy element is disclosed that is configured to undergo a graded phase change along a dimension of the shape memory alloy element in response to thermal stimulus. This graded phase change produces a graded displacement response of the shape memory element.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种形状记忆合金元件，其被配置为响应于热刺激而沿着形状记忆合金元件的尺寸进行渐变相位变化。 该渐变相变产生形状记忆元件的渐变位移响应。

公开(公告)号：US20120174573A1

公开(公告)日：2012-07-12

申请号：US13421784

申请日：2012-03-15

申请人： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi

发明人： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

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

摘要： A multi-segmented active material actuator producing a variable, tailored, or staged/staggered stroke in response to an activation signal, including a plurality of segments joined in series, having differing constituencies and geometric configurations, and presenting differing activation thresholds, activation periods/rates, and/or strokes as a result.

摘要翻译： 响应于激活信号（包括串联连接的多个段，其具有不同的选区和几何配置）以及呈现不同的激活阈值，激活周期/分段的多分段活性材料致动器产生可变的，定制的或分级/交错的行程， 费率和/或笔画。