Shape memory alloy active hatch vent

A vent assembly for selectively opening and closing an interior space of a vehicle to permit air within the interior space of the vehicle to exit the interior space of the vehicle, the vent assembly comprising:

• a housing defining a plurality of openings;
• a plurality of vanes, with one of said plurality of vanes disposed within each of said plurality of openings, each of said plurality of vanes being pivotably attached to said housing and configured for movement in unison between an open position and a closed position with said open position permitting fluid flow through said plurality of openings and said closed position preventing fluid flow through said plurality of openings;
• and
• an actuator mechanism attached to said housing and coupled to at least one of said plurality of vanes and configured for moving said plurality of vanes between said open position and said closed position;
• wherein said actuator mechanism includes a transmission coupled to said at least one of said plurality of vanes and configured for transmitting rotation to said at least one of said plurality of vanes, and further includes a shape memory alloy member coupled to said transmission and operable to contract linearly in response to a signal, wherein said linear contraction of said shape memory alloy member actuates said transmission to rotate said at least one of said plurality of vanes;
• and
• wherein said actuator mechanism further includes a casing and wherein said transmission includes a vane gear rotatably supported by said casing and a geared level rotatably supported by said casing and in meshing engagement with said vane gear, wherein said vane gear and said geared lever are spur gears;
• and
• wherein said shape memory alloy member includes a first end coupled to said geared lever and a second end coupled to said casing;
• and
• wherein said actuator mechanism further includes a spring coupled to said transmission and configured to urge said vanes into the closed position.