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US 10,675,781 B1Granted
Shape memory alloy rock splitters (SMARS)
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsOthmane Benafan, Ronald D. Noebe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) may be used for static rock splitting. The SMAs may be used as high-energy multifunctional materials, which have a unique ability to recover large deformations and generate high stresses in response to thermal loads.
Claims13
An apparatus for splitting a rock, comprising:
- a housing containing two shape memory alloy (SMA) expanding elements, wherein each SMA expanding element comprises a body, a first end cap, and a second end cap, wherein the body is constructed of nickel titanium hafnium (NiTiHf), nickel titanium zirconium (NiTiZr), or nickel titanium hafnium zirconium (NiTiHfZr);
- two heaters, wherein each heater substantially surrounds a respective body of one of the two SMA expanding elements;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively power the heaters, wherein:
- when the bodies reach a predefined temperature within a predefined borehole of the rock, the first and second end caps are configured to exert force on walls of the borehole, and
- the selective powering of the heaters causes the SMA expanding elements to sequentially exert force on the walls of the borehole.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.