The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 23, 2018
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2016
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Moushumi Shome, Kent, WA (US);
THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An actuator includes a shape-memory alloy (SMA), a power supply that transmits electrical current, a heat source positioned proximate to the SMA, a heat sink positioned proximate to the SMA, and a control module. The control module causes the power supply to transmit the electrical current to the heat source in response to receiving a first signal, thereby causing the heat source to heat the SMA via induction heating. The control module also causes the power supply to cease transmitting the electrical current to the heat source in response to receiving a second signal, thereby causing the heat source to stop heating the SMA. The control module also causes the power supply to transmit the electrical current to the heat sink in response to receiving the second signal, thereby causing the heat sink to cool the SMA via magneto-thermal convection cooling.