SHAPE MEMORY-BASED ACTUATORS AND RELEASE MECHANISMS THEREFROM

• Main Authors: LAM NHIN S, VAIDYANATHAN RAJAN, KRISHNAN VINU B, SNYDER DANIEL W, SCHOENWALD DAVID K, NOEBE RONALD D, WATSON DANIEL S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.07.2011
• Subjects: BLASTING; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

SM-based actuators (110) and release mechanisms (100) therefrom and systems (500) including one or more release mechanisms (100). The actuators (110) comprise a SM member (118) and a deformable member (140) mechanically coupled to the SM member (118) which deforms upon a shape change of the SM membe...