Ventilation closure system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRobert Steven Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ventilation closure system includes a damper, a shape memory alloy actuator, and a heating device. The shape memory alloy actuator is coupled to the damper. The shape memory alloy actuator has a first state in which the damper is positioned to permit airflow in the duct and has a second state in which the damper is positioned to obstruct the airflow in the duct. The shape memory alloy actuator is configured to change from the first state to the second state responsive to the shape memory alloy actuator attaining a first temperature responsive to heat released by an exothermic reaction in a compartment associated with the duct. The heating device is configured to heat the shape memory alloy actuator to maintain the damper in a position that obstructs the airflow in the duct.
Claims20
A method of fire control for a compartment using a shape memory alloy actuator, the shape memory alloy actuator having a first state in which airflow of a duct associated with the compartment is unobstructed by a damper and having a second state in which the damper obstructs the airflow of the duct, the method comprising:
- while the shape memory alloy actuator is in the first state, attaining, by the shape memory alloy actuator, a first temperature responsive to heat released by an exothermic reaction in the compartment;
- responsive to attaining the first temperature, changing, by the shape memory alloy actuator, from the first state to the second state to move the damper to obstruct airflow of the duct;
- and
- after changing from the first state to the second state, heating the shape memory alloy actuator using a heating device coupled to the shape memory alloy actuator, wherein the heating causes the shape memory alloy actuator to maintain the second state despite a reduction in heat released by the exothermic reaction.
A ventilation closure system comprising:
- a damper;
- a shape memory alloy actuator having a first state in which the damper is positioned to permit airflow in a duct and having a second state in which the damper is positioned to obstruct the airflow in the duct, the shape memory alloy actuator configured to change from the first state to the second state responsive to the shape memory alloy actuator attaining a first temperature responsive to heat released by an exothermic reaction in a compartment associated with the duct;
- and
- a heating device thermally coupled to the shape memory alloy actuator, the heating device configured to heat the shape memory alloy actuator to maintain the first temperature at the shape memory alloy actuator so that the shape memory alloy actuator remains in the second state.
An assembly including a ventilation closure system, the assembly comprising:
- a compartment;
- a duct configured to provide airflow to the compartment;
- a damper;
- a shape memory alloy actuator having a first state in which the damper is positioned to permit the airflow in the duct and having a second state in which the damper is positioned to obstruct the airflow in the duct, the shape memory alloy actuator in thermal communication with the compartment and configured to change from the first state to the second state responsive to the shape memory alloy actuator attaining a first temperature responsive to heat released by an exothermic reaction in the compartment;
- a heating device thermally coupled to the shape memory alloy actuator, the heating device configured to, when activated, heat the shape memory alloy actuator;
- and
- control circuitry coupled to the heating device, the control circuitry configured to selectively activate the heating device to maintain the first temperature at the shape memory alloy actuator so that the shape memory alloy actuator remains in the second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.