University of Washington

Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Taishi Wada

Minoru Taya

Hsiu-hung Chen

Masahiro Kusaka

Yuta Urushiyama

Shunji Suzuki

Victor Cheng

Chiyuan Wang

Multiple embodiments of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) based torque actuators are described. These torque actuators include a magnetic trigger and an FSMA member, which when actuated by the magnetic trigger, produces a torque for rotating a member. Examples of magnetic triggers include hybrid magnetic triggers having at least one electromagnet and at least one permanent magnet. The FSMA member can be configured as a coil (or plate) spring and can be fabricated of a true FSMA alloy (i.e., an alloy that exhibits both ferromagnetic and shape memory properties) or of an FSMA composite that includes a ferromagnetic portion and an SMA portion. Several embodiments include a central orifice in which the FSMA member and an axial rod configured to rotate when actuated are disposed; the magnetic trigger system is disposed about the periphery of the orifice.

Torque actuator incorporating shape memory alloy composites

An apparatus for controlling the rigidity of vehicle body according to the present invention comprises a controller for controlling a buckling form, which controls the buckling form by adding to a member to be inputted to a collision load a lateral force in the direction substantially perpendicular to the member.

Apparatus for controlling rigidity of vehicle body

The present invention employs an optimized cross-sectional shape for a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite that is used in a spring-type actuator, an improved hybrid magnetic trigger for use in FSMA based actuators, an a FSMA composite based spring type actuator, an a FSMA based spring type actuator including a stack of triggering units and FSMA springs, a FSMA composite based torque actuator. The invention also includes a model that can be employed to evaluate different materials being considered as components a FSMA for a FSMA composite used in either a FSMA based torque actuator or a FSMA spring actuator.

Design of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composites and actuators incorporating such materials

Growing community of inventors

Isezakichoujya-machi, Japan

Taishi Wada