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US 7,037,076 B2Granted
Shape memory alloy device and control method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsA. Dean Jacot, Robert T. Ruggeri, Dan J. Clingman
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AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsA. Dean Jacot, Robert T. Ruggeri, Dan J. Clingman
Estimating the term…
A preferred rotary actuator includes an actuator assembly having a torque tube formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a superelastic NiTinol return spring associated with the torque tube and adapted to bias the torque tube toward an initial position, and a torque tube heating element, especially a thermoelectric device, for switching the SMA to cause rotation to an object connected to the actuator or to generate a torque upon that object. The torque tube (24) includes a proximal end (32) and a distal end (34). The return spring and torque tube are connected at their ends, with the torque tube being pretwisted while in a martensitic state relative to the spring. Activation of the heating element causes the torque tube to enter an austenitic state in which it returns to its previous untwisted configuration. Removal of heat allows the torque tube to return to a martensitic state, when the return spring retwists the torque tube. A unique locking assembly 22 is used with the preferred actuator assembly. A helicopter blade twist rotation system for a rotorcraft blade 200 having a blade root 202 and a tip 204 includes a SMA rotary actuator 18 located within the blade near the blade root, and a passive torque tube (206) located within the blade and having a proximal end connected to the rotary actuator and a distal end connected to the blade near to the blade tip.
An actuator for cycling between first and second positions, comprising:
An actuator for cycling between first and second positions, comprising:
A method of manufacturing an actuator for cycling between first and second positions, comprising the steps of:
A method of cycling a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator between first and second positions, said actuator having first and second SMA devices and at least one thermoelectric element disposed in thermal connection with at least one of the SMA devices, comprising the steps of:
An actuator for cycling between first and second positions, comprising:
An actuator for cycling between first and second positions, comprising:
A rotary actuator for cycling between first and second positions separated by a predetermined number of degrees of rotation, comprising:
An actuator for cycling between first and second positions, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.