公开(公告)号：WO2023012487A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-09

申请号：PCT/GB2022/052064

申请日：2022-08-08

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： FARMER, Geoffrey ,  KLOPFENSTEIN, Reto ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  HOWARTH, James ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  RUST, Steve ,  BAGADHI, Kumar

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F16K31/00 ,  G02B7/00

Abstract: Apparatus and method for accurate positioning and coupling of a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator wire to an actuator or actuating component. The apparatus may be manually-operated, partly manually-operated and partly automated, or fully automated.

公开(公告)号：WO2021240165A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

申请号：PCT/GB2021/051298

申请日：2021-05-27

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： HART, Oliver ,  EDDINGTON, Robin ,  VAN WYK, Peter ,  BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  FARMER, Geoffrey

IPC: G02B7/00 ,  G02B7/02 ,  G02B7/04 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/0665 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0046 ,  G03B2205/0076

Abstract: An actuation apparatus is disclosed. The actuation apparatus comprises a first part (2), a second part (10), and a bearing arrangement (20) supporting the second part on the first part. The bearing arrangement is arranged to guide movement of the second part with respect to the first part. The bearing arrangement comprises a bearing having a first bearing surface (31) located on the first part and a second bearing surface (32) located on the second part, and a rolling bearing (33, 38) configured to be disposed between the first and second bearing surfaces such that the first and second bearing surfaces are spaced by a gap. One of the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface is configured such that the bearing surface has a single contact point with the rolling bearing at any one time and the other of the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface is configured such that the bearing surface has two contact points with the rolling bearing at any one time. The two contact points of the first or second bearing surface are located closer to the axis of rotation of the rolling bearing than the single contact point of the other of the first or second bearing surface, such that the distance moved by the rolling bearing relative to the first part is different to the distance moved by the second part relative to the rolling bearing.

公开(公告)号：WO2020201765A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-08

申请号：PCT/GB2020/050889

申请日：2020-04-03

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  FARMER, Geoffrey

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  H01R4/18

Abstract: We describe a crimp for forming an electrical connection to a wire, an actuator assembly comprising a pair of crimps and a crimp closing mechanism. We also describe methods of assembling an actuator assembly. The crimp (110) comprises a first generally planar portion (120); a second portion (122) connected to and set at an angle to the first portion; and a third portion (124) connected to the second portion to define a channel between the second and third portions. The channel is configured to receive a wire (12). The third portion is foldable relative to the second portion to secure the received wire (12) within the crimp (110).

公开(公告)号：WO2022248876A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-01

申请号：PCT/GB2022/051355

申请日：2022-05-27

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： HOWARTH, James ,  BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  EDDINGTON, Robin ,  FARMER, Geoffrey ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F16H1/32 ,  F16H49/00

Abstract: An SMA actuator assembly (1) comprising: a support structure (10), a rotating part (40) arranged to rotate about a rotation axis (R); a movable part (20) arranged to move in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis and along a boundary (45) of the rotating part, wherein one of the rotating part and the movable part surrounds the other of the rotating part and the movable part in the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis; and three or more SMA wires (30) arranged, on contraction, to move the movable part along the boundary of the rotating part, such that contact between the movable part and the rotating part drives continuous rotation of the rotating part about the rotation axis, wherein the arrangement of the three or more SMA wires is capable of applying a torque to the movable part.

公开(公告)号：WO2021123780A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-24

申请号：PCT/GB2020/053252

申请日：2020-12-16

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  FLOURIS, Andreas ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  HOWARTH, James ,  SCHOLZ, Marc-Sebastian ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  CARR, Joshua ,  FARMER, Geoffrey

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  B06B1/00 ,  F03G7/065

Abstract: An SMA actuator assembly comprises two parts relatively movable along a movement axis, and a length of SMA wire, each end of the SMA wire being connected to one of the parts. One part comprises a contact portion and the other part comprises plural contact portions, the contact portions making contact with the SMA wire on opposite sides along the movement axis. The contact portions alternate in a direction normal to the movement axis and are positioned to guide the SMA wire along a tortuous path such that the parts are driven in opposite directions on contraction of the SMA wire. Considering intermediate sections of the SMA wire between contacts with adjacent contact portions, on contraction of the SMA wire, the fractional change in the wire length of each intermediate section is equal to the overall strain of the SMA wire and there is no slippage of the SMA wire.

公开(公告)号：WO2020065332A1

公开(公告)日：2020-04-02

申请号：PCT/GB2019/052728

申请日：2019-09-26

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： FARMER, Geoffrey

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G02B7/00 ,  G02B7/02 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B3/10

Abstract: The degree of slack of a length of SMA wire is detected using images of the length of SMA wire captured from different orientations. The images are analysed to determine a three-dimensional path of the length of SMA wire and to derive a measure of the degree of slack therefrom. The method provides an accurate measure which may be used during manufacture of an SMA actuator assembly.

公开(公告)号：WO2019086854A3

公开(公告)日：2019-05-09

申请号：PCT/GB2018/053134

申请日：2018-10-30

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： FARMER, Geoffrey ,  HOWARTH, James ,  REDDALL, Nicholas Henry

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: Embodiments of the present techniques provide methods for manufacturing large volumes of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assemblies, which may also advantageously simplify and/or speed-up the process of manufacturing SMA actuator assemblies.

公开(公告)号：WO2019086854A2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-09

申请号：PCT/GB2018/053134

申请日：2018-10-30

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： FARMER, Geoffrey ,  HOWARTH, James ,  REDDALL, Nicholas Henry

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide methods for manufacturing large volumes of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assemblies, which may also advantageously simplify and/or speed-up the process of manufacturing SMA actuator assemblies.