Rapid shape memory effect micro-actuators
OwnerRichard B. Minchinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rapid internal cooling of shape memory effect material actuators during cooling portion of thermal cycle by means of embedded micro-heat pipes enables one, two and three dimensional actuators comprised of composite structures with rapid response times. Structures are able to operate in high-temperature environments, have low thermal hysteresis, have improved positional control for robotics applications and enable large scale shape memory effect material actuators with rapid response characteristics.
Claims19
A rapid shape memory effect micro-actuator with internal cooling means, comprising:
- (a) a body fabricated from a shape memory effect material;
- (b) at least one micro-heat pipe contained within said body;
- (c) heating means for at least one portion of said body;
- (d) cooling means for at least one portion of said body complementary to said heated portions of said body;
- whereby said micro-actuator operates during a cooling portion of its thermal/mechanical cycle by transporting thermal energy from the heating portion to the cooling portion internally.
A micro-actuator according to claim wherein said body is comprised of a composite of two integrally joined materials in mechanical communication:
- (a) at least one shape memory effect material portion, and;
- (b) at least one resilient material portion;
- whereby said micro-actuator operates in a direction due to the action of said shape memory material portion of the body and in the reverse of said direction due to the action of said resilient material portion of the body.
A micro-actuator according to claim wherein said micro-actuator upon heating deflects in a direction due to the action of said shape memory material portion of the body and upon cooling deflects in the reverse of said direction due an external force means.
A micro-actuator according to claim wherein said micro-actuator is bi-directionally trained to deflect in a direction upon heating and deflect in reverse of said direction upon cooling.
A rapidly actuated composite structure comprising:
- (a) A plurality of rapid shape memory effect micro-actuators, with internal cooling means, each comprising:
- (i) a first body fabricated from a shape memory effect material;
- (ii) at least one micro-heat pipe contained within said body;
- (iii) heating means for at least one portion of said body;
- (iv) cooling means for at least one complementary portion of said body;
- (b) said plurality of micro-actuators being embedded within and in mechanical communication with a second body comprising a second material;
- whereby the external one, two or three dimensional shape of said second body may be controlled by application of said heating and said cooling means to said plurality of micro-actuators.
A rapid shape memory effect micro-actuator with internal cooling means, comprising a body fabricated from a composite of two integrally joined materials in mechanical communication:
- (a) at least one shape memory effect material portion, and;
- (b) at least one resilient material portion;
- whereby said micro-actuator operates in a direction due to the action of said shape memory material portion of the body and in the reverse of said direction due to the action of said resilient material portion of the body;
- (c) at least one micro-heat pipe contained within the shape memory effect material portion of said body;
- (d) heating means for at least one portion of said body;
- (e) cooling means for at least one portion of said body complementary to said heated portions of said body;
- whereby said micro-actuator operates during a cooling portion of its thermal/mechanical cycle by transporting thermal energy from said heating portion to said cooling portion internally.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.