High temperature shape memory alloy actuators
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDon Mark Lipkin, Liang Jiang, Ronald Scott Bunker
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Abstract
A high temperature component having an actuator body including an actuatable portion comprising a shape memory alloy containing one more of Ni, Al, Nb, Ti and Ta and a platinum-group metal. The shape memory alloy has an altered geometry at a predetermined temperature. The actuator is also capable of operation in and is resistant to high temperature oxidizing atmospheres. A method for forming an actuator and a method for high temperature control are also disclosed.
Claims24
A high temperature gas turbine engine component comprising:
- an actuator body, the actuator body having an actuatable portion comprising a nickel-aluminum shape memory alloy containing one more elements selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ti, Ta and combinations thereof and a platinum-group metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir and combinations thereof, the nickel-aluminum based shape memory alloy having an altered geometry above a predetermined temperature;
- and
- wherein a portion of the actuator body is bonded to a surface of the high temperature gas turbine component along a wheelspace path, and wherein the altered geometry of the actuatable portion disrupts a gas flow path through the wheelspace path;
- and
- wherein the actuator body is resistant to high temperature oxidizing atmospheres.
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A high temperature gas turbine engine component comprising:
- an actuator body, the actuator body having an actuatable portion comprising a shape memory alloy, wherein the shape memory alloy comprises an alloy of the following formula:
- Ru0.5+y(Nb1−xTax)0.5−y
- wherein x is from about 0 to about 1 atomic fraction, and y is from about −0.06 to about 0.23 atomic fraction, the shape memory alloy having an altered geometry above a predetermined temperature;
- wherein a portion of the actuator body is bonded to a surface of the high temperature gas turbine component along a wheelspace seal path, and wherein the altered geometry of the actuatable portion disrupts a gas flow path through the wheelspace seal path;
- and
- wherein the actuator body is resistant to high temperature oxidizing atmospheres.
A method for forming a high temperature actuator body comprising:
- providing a shape memory alloy containing one more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Al, Nb, Ti, Ta and combinations thereof and a platinum-group metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir and combinations thereof;
- heating the alloy to a predetermined elevated temperature;
- deforming the alloy to a geometry at the predetermined high temperature to impart the high-temperature shape;
- and
- cooling the alloy to form a high temperature shape memory actuator portion.
A method for providing high temperature actuation comprising:
- providing a high temperature actuator, the actuator comprising:
- an actuator body, the actuator body having an actuatable portion comprising a shape memory alloy containing one more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Al, Nb, Ti, Ta and combinations thereof and a platinum-group metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir and combinations thereof, the shape memory alloy having an altered geometry above a predetermined temperature;
- and
- exposing the actuator to a predetermined temperature to provide the actuatable portion with a desired geometry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.