Method and apparatus for actuating a valve
AssigneeFluid Automation Systems S.A.
InventorsNicolas Deperraz, Julien Solioz, Michael Baumgartner
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Abstract
A valve (100) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The valve (100) comprises a body (102) including a plurality of ports (204, 205, 206). The valve (100) also comprises a valve actuator (150) positioned within the body (102). The valve actuator (150) includes a slider (110) and one or more shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b). The one or more shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) are coupled to at least one side (113, 114) of the slider (110). The slider (110) is movable between a first position and at least a second position upon energizing at least one of the shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) of the one or more shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) in order to actuate the valve (100).
Claims18
A valve (100), comprising:
- a body (102) including a plurality of ports (204, 205, 206);
- a cover (101) coupled to the body (102);
- a biasing member (111) positioned between the cover (101) and a slider (110);
- a valve actuator (150) positioned within the body (102), including:
- the slider (110) pressed into the body (102) by the biasing member (111), wherein a frictional force between the slider (110) and the body (102) increases as the slider (110) is pressed further into the body (102);
- and
- one or more shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) coupled to at least one side (113, 114) of the slider (110), wherein energizing at least one of the shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) of the one or more shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) provides a threshold actuation force that overcomes the frictional force between the slider (110) and the body (102) in order to actuate the valve (100) to an actuated state;
- wherein the frictional force between the slider (110) and the body (102) prevents the slider (110) from moving with respect to the body (102) from the actuated state when the one or more shape memory alloy elements (112a, 112b) are de-energized.
A method for controlling a flow of a fluid through a valve including a shape memory alloy element coupled to a slider, the method comprising steps of:
- pressing the slider into a body of the valve to provide a frictional force between the slider and the body to prevent movement of the slider from a first position to a second position with respect to the body;
- energizing the shape memory alloy element to above a transformation temperature, wherein the shape memory alloy element transforms from a first state to a second state at the transformation temperature to provide a threshold actuation force on the slider, which overcomes the frictional force between the slider and the body;
- and
- moving the slider from the first position to at least the second position as the shape memory alloy element transforms from the first state to the second state to actuate the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.