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US 12,480,480 B2Granted
Shape memory alloy apparatus
AssigneeCambridge Mechatronics Limited
InventorsJoshua Carr, Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, James Howarth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shape memory alloy apparatus (1) comprising: a member (3) comprising a first end portion (5) and a second end portion (7); and a shape memory alloy component (9) connected to the member (3). The shape memory alloy component (9) being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion (5) and the second end portion (7) of the member (3), the member (3) being configured to be in tension during contraction of the shape memory alloy component (9), wherein the said separation changes in a direction that is angled to the direction of contraction.
Claims18
A shape memory alloy apparatus comprising:
- a member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;
- a shape memory alloy component connected to the member and being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of the member, the member being configured to be in tension during contraction of the shape memory alloy component, wherein the said separation changes in a direction that is angled to the direction of contraction;
- a support structure, the first end portion of the member being connected to the support structure;
- a moveable element, the second end portion of the member being connected to the moveable element such that the changing of the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of the member is configured to drive movement of the moveable element relative to the support structure along a movement axis in a first direction and/or to drive, in a first rotational direction, rotational movement of the moveable element about a first axis that is perpendicular to the movement axis;
- and
- a second member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the member and the second member forming a pair of members, the shape memory alloy component being arranged between the members of the pair of members and being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of each of the members.
3 more elements
A shape memory alloy apparatus comprising:
- a support structure;
- a moveable element;
- a first pair of members and a second pair of members, each member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;
- a first shape memory alloy component arranged between the members of the first pair of members and being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of the members of the first pair of members to drive movement of the moveable element relative to the support structure along a movement axis in a first direction and/or to drive, in a first rotational direction, rotational movement of the moveable element about a first axis that is perpendicular to the movement axis;
- and
- a second shape memory alloy component arranged between the members of the second pair of members and being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of the members of the second pair of members to drive movement of the moveable element relative to the support structure along the movement axis in a second direction and/or to drive rotational movement of the moveable element about a second axis perpendicular to both first axis and the movement axis or about the first axis in a second rotational direction;
- wherein the second direction being opposite to the first direction and the second rotational direction being opposite the first rotational direction.
4 more elements
A method of controlling a shape memory alloy apparatus, the method comprising:
- contracting a shape memory alloy component;
- placing, by contracting the shape memory alloy component, a member under tension;
- changing, by placing the member under tension, the separation between a first end portion and a second end portion of the member, wherein the said separation changes in a direction that is angled to the direction of contraction;
- wherein the first end portion of the member is connected to a support structure and the second end portion of the member is connected to a moveable element such that the changing of the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of the member is configured to drive movement of the moveable element relative to the support structure along a movement axis in a first direction and/or to drive, in a first rotational direction, rotational movement of the moveable element about a first axis that is perpendicular to the movement axis;
- and
- wherein the member and a second member form a pair of members, the second member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the shape memory alloy component is arranged between the members of the pair of members such that the shape memory alloy component changes the separation between the first end portion and the second end portion of each of the members.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.