Shape memory alloy powered hydraulic accumulator having actuation plates
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsGarrett Lewis, Gangbing Song, Devendra Patil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, in certain embodiments, includes an accumulator having a first plate with a first plurality of holes and a second plate with a second plurality of holes. The second plate is positioned at an offset from the first plate, and the second plate is moveable relative to the first plate to adjust a fluid pressure. The accumulator also includes a plurality of shape memory alloy wires extending between the first and second plates, wherein the plurality of shape memory alloy wires extend through the first and second plurality of holes.
Claims23
A system, comprising:
- an accumulator configured to store a hydraulic fluid to operate subsea equipment, wherein the accumulator comprises:
- a pressure balancer configured to pressure balance the accumulator in a subsea environment;
- a piston;
- a first plate;
- a second plate coupled to the piston, wherein the second plate is positioned at an offset from the first plate, and the second plate is moveable relative to the first plate to adjust a fluid pressure with the piston;
- a plurality of shape memory alloy wires extending between the first and second plates;
- and
- a controller with a memory and instructions, wherein the controller adjusts a supply of electrical current through the plurality of shape memory alloy wires based at least in part on a measurement sensed from the accumulator.
A system, comprising:
- an accumulator configured to store hydraulic fluid to operate subsea equipment, wherein the accumulator comprises:
- a shape memory alloy powered drive, comprising:
- a first plate;
- a plurality of shape memory alloy wires;
- and
- a controller comprising a memory and instructions that adjusts a supply of electrical current through the shape memory alloy wires to adjust a force on the first plate to operate the subsea equipment with the hydraulic fluid.
A method for actuating an accumulator configured to store hydraulic fluid to operate subsea equipment, comprising:
- supplying an electrical current to a plurality of shape memory alloy wires extending through holes in first and second plates of the accumulator to cause movement of the first plate relative to the second plate, wherein the accumulator stores a hydraulic fluid to operate the subsea equipment;
- and
- adjusting, via a controller, the supply of electrical current through the shape memory alloy wires based at least in part on a measurement sensed from the accumulator to control a supply of the hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to the subsea equipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.