US 9,897,078 B2Granted

Bi-directional rotary shape memory alloy element actuator assemblies, and systems and methods including the same

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsDouglas E. Nicholson, Micheal Bass, James Henry Mabe

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Abstract

Rotary actuator assemblies, wind tunnels including the same, and associated methods are disclosed. A rotary actuator assembly includes a rotary element and a rotary actuator with a shape memory alloy element. The rotary actuator is configured to generate a first torque and a second torque in opposing rotary directions to rotate the rotary element. A rotary actuator assembly further includes an assist magnetic element and a receiver magnetic element configured to generate a magnetic force therebetween. Wind tunnels include an aerodynamic model with a rotary actuator assembly to rotate a portion of the aerodynamic model with respect to an airstream in a chamber. A method of rotating a rotary element includes modulating a temperature of a shape memory alloy element and applying a supplemental torque to the rotary element with an assist magnetic element and a receiver magnetic element.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wind tunnel for testing an aerodynamic model, the wind tunnel comprising:

a chamber extending in a longitudinal direction;
an airstream source configured to generate an airstream in the chamber with an airstream flow direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction;
and
an aerodynamic model positioned in the chamber to receive an aerodynamic load force from the airstream;
wherein the aerodynamic model includes an actuator assembly configured to rotate a portion of the aerodynamic model with respect to the airstream flow direction to test an aerodynamic property of the aerodynamic model, wherein the actuator assembly includes:
an actuator mount;
a rotary actuator coupled to the actuator mount and configured to generate a first torque in a first rotary direction and a second torque in a second rotary direction that is opposite the first rotary direction;
a rotary element coupled to the rotary actuator, wherein the rotary element has an angular position in an angular range of motion, and further wherein the rotary element is configured to:
(i) rotate with respect to the actuator mount in the first rotary direction responsive to receipt of the first torque from the rotary actuator;
and
(ii) rotate with respect to the actuator mount in the second rotary direction responsive to receipt of the second torque from the rotary actuator;
an assist magnetic element mounted on the actuator mount;
a receiver magnetic element mounted on the rotary element;
and
a thermal control unit configured to regulate a temperature of at least a portion of the rotary actuator;
wherein the rotary actuator includes a shape memory alloy element configured to generate the first torque and the second torque responsive to the thermal control unit regulating a temperature of the shape memory alloy element;
and wherein the assist magnetic element and the receiver magnetic element are configured to generate a magnetic force therebetween when the angular position of the rotary element is in a magnetic assist portion of the angular range of motion, wherein the magnetic assist portion is a subset of the angular range of motion.

14 more elements

A bi-directional rotary shape memory alloy element actuator assembly, the actuator assembly comprising:

an actuator mount;
a rotary actuator coupled to the actuator mount and configured to generate a first torque in a first rotary direction and a second torque in a second rotary direction that is opposite the first rotary direction;
a rotary element coupled to the rotary actuator, wherein the rotary element has an angular position in an angular range of motion, and further wherein the rotary element is configured to:
(i) rotate with respect to the actuator mount in the first rotary direction responsive to receipt of the first torque from the rotary actuator;
and
(ii) rotate with respect to the actuator mount in the second rotary direction responsive to receipt of the second torque from the rotary actuator;
an assist magnetic element mounted to the actuator mount;
a receiver magnetic element mounted on the rotary element;
and
a thermal control unit configured to regulate a temperature of at least a portion of the rotary actuator;
wherein the rotary actuator includes a shape memory alloy element configured to generate the first torque and the second torque responsive to the thermal control unit regulating a temperature of the shape memory alloy element;
and wherein the assist magnetic element and the receiver magnetic element are configured to generate a magnetic force therebetween when the angular position of the rotary element is in a magnetic assist portion of the angular range of motion, wherein the magnetic assist portion is a subset of the angular range of motion.

9 more elements

A method of rotating a rotary element in two rotary directions through an angular range of motion, the method comprising:

providing an actuator assembly that includes:
an actuator mount;
a rotary actuator coupled to the actuator mount and configured to generate a first torque in a first rotary direction and a second torque in a second rotary direction that is opposite the first rotary direction;
a rotary element coupled to the rotary actuator, wherein the rotary element has an angular position in an angular range of motion, and further wherein the rotary element is configured to:
(i) rotate with respect to the actuator mount in the first rotary direction responsive to receipt of the first torque from the rotary actuator;
and
(ii) rotate with respect to the actuator mount in the second rotary direction responsive to receipt of the second torque from the rotary actuator;
an assist magnetic element statically coupled to the actuator mount;
a receiver magnetic element mounted on the rotary element;
and
a thermal control unit configured to regulate a temperature of at least a portion of the rotary actuator;
wherein the rotary actuator includes a shape memory alloy element configured to generate the first torque and the second torque responsive to the thermal control unit regulating a temperature of the shape memory alloy element;
and wherein the assist magnetic element and the receiver magnetic element are configured to generate a magnetic force therebetween when the angular position of the rotary element is in a magnetic assist portion of the angular range of motion, wherein the magnetic assist portion is a subset of the angular range of motion;
increasing the temperature of the shape memory alloy element to rotate the rotary element in the first rotary direction;
decreasing the temperature of the shape memory alloy element to rotate the rotary element in the second rotary direction;
and
applying a supplemental torque to the rotary element with the assist magnetic element and the receiver magnetic element when the angular position of the rotary element is in the magnetic assist portion of the angular range of motion.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.