Fluid transport systems comprising a magnetic shape memory pipe
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsBrian J. Pinkelman, Michael P. Rowe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid transport system that includes a magnetic shape memory pipe having an input end opposite an output end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface. The inner surface defines an inner diameter of the magnetic shape memory pipe and the magnetic shape memory pipe includes a magnetic shape memory alloy. The fluid transport system further includes one or more magnetic field generating devices surrounding the outer surface of the magnetic shape memory pipe and configured to generate a control magnetic field that, when applied to a region of the magnetic shape memory pipe, alters the inner diameter of the region of the magnetic shape memory pipe.
Claims20
A fluid transport system comprising:
- a magnetic shape memory (MSM) pipe comprising an input end opposite an output end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines an inner diameter of the MSM pipe and the MSM pipe comprises an MSM alloy;
- and
- one or more magnetic field generating devices surrounding the outer surface of the MSM pipe and configured to generate a control magnetic field that, when applied to a region of the MSM pipe, alters the inner diameter of the region of the MSM pipe.
A method of transporting fluid, the method comprising:
- introducing a fluid into an input end of a magnetic shape memory (MSM) pipe, wherein:
- the MSM pipe comprises the input end opposite an output end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface;
- the inner surface defines an inner diameter of the MSM pipe;
- and
- the MSM pipe comprises an MSM alloy;
- and
- applying a control magnetic field to a first region of the MSM pipe such that the MSM alloy in the first region of the MSM pipe changes from a static state to a contracted state, thereby increasing the inner diameter of the first region of the MSM pipe from a first inner diameter to a second inner diameter and encouraging fluid flow from the input end of the MSM pipe toward the output end of the MSM pipe, wherein the control magnetic field is generated using one or more magnetic field generating devices surrounding the outer surface of the MSM pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.