Swing type SMA actuator
AssigneeActuator Solutions GmbH
InventorMatthias Peterreins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is inherent to a swing-type Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator (10) comprising a stationary frame (11) and a swingable part (12) that are coupled by means of a pivot (13) allowing the swing of the swingable part (12), two SMA wires (14, 14′) being engaged to two connecting elements (15, 15′) present respectively on a left and right portion of the swingable part (12) and vertically separated from the pivot (13), such that the activation of one of the SMA wires (14, 14′) causes the swing of the swingable part (12) in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
Claims21
An actuator (10) comprising a stationary frame (11) and a swingable part (12) that are coupled by means of:
- a pivot (13) allowing the swing of said swingable part (12),
- two shape memory alloy wires (14, 14′) engaged to two connecting elements (15, 15′) present on the swingable part (12) and vertically separated from the pivot (13), said connecting elements (15, 15′) being respectively on a left and right portion of the swingable part (12), such that the activation of one of said shape memory alloy wires (14, 14′) causes the swing of the swingable part (12) in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction,
- characterized in that the actuator further comprises a movable element (16) that is slidable towards the outside of the actuator under the action of a biasing spring (19) upon disengagement, caused by said swing of the swingable part (12), of a locking element (17) located on the swingable part (12) and engaged in a recess (18) of said movable element (16).
An actuator (10) comprising a stationary frame (11) and a swingable part (12) that are coupled by means of:
- a pivot (13) allowing the swing of said swingable part (12),
- two shape memory alloy wires (14, 14′), each shape memory alloy wire (14, 14′) being wound around a respective one of two connecting elements (15, 15′) attached to the swingable part (12) and vertically separated from the pivot (13), said connecting elements (15, 15′) being respectively attached to a left portion and a right portion of the swingable part (12), such that the activation of one of said shape memory alloy wires (14, 14′) causes the swing of the swingable part (12) in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction,
- characterized in that the actuator further comprises a movable element (16) that is slidable towards the outside of the actuator under the action of a biasing spring (19) upon disengagement, caused by said swing of the swingable part (12), of a locking element (17) located on the swingable part (12) and engaged in a recess (18) of said movable element (16).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.