Non-explosive releasable coupling device
AssigneeTiNi Alloy Company
InventorsA. David Johnson, Michael Bokaie, Valery Martynov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for holding or clamping components together, and with the clamping being selectively loosened to permit the components to move through a predetermined distance without being fully released. A bolt has its head end attached to one component and its threaded end attached to the other component. A portion of the bolt's shank is formed with a necked-down portion. An actuator of shape memory alloy material is mounted about the bolt. When energized by heat, the actuator expands and exerts a great force which stretches the bolt, permanently deforming the bolt. This enables limited movement of the components while still restraining them from separating.
Claims5
A device for holding a first and a second component together, the device comprising:
- a bolt having a first end configured to secure to a first component, and a second end configured to secure to a second component, the bolt having a shank including a necked-down portion configured to concentrate axial stress;
- a head near the first end;
- a nut mounted about the second end, the second end extending through the nut for securing to the second component;
- an actuator fitted about the shank between the head and the nut, the actuator being formed of a shape memory alloy material that is configured to elongate axially against the head and nut in response to being heated through the material's crystalline phase change transformation temperature;
- wherein the bolt is configured to convert from a compressed configuration to an elongated configuration by heating the actuator and elongating the necked-down portion to plastically deform the bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.