Actuator and connection element

Abstract

Actuator () for an adjustable component, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a wire () made of a shape memory alloy having a first end portion () and a second end portion () and extending in an axial direction (A) over a variable length (L); an actuating element () movable in the axial direction (A) between a first position (I) and a second position (II); a floating support () by which the wire () is movably supported in the axial direction (A); a fixed support () by which the wire () is fixedly disposed in the axial direction (A); at least one abutment () connected to the floating support () or the fixed support () and provided with a through-opening () for the wire () and a support surface () adapted to transmit a force in the radial direction (R); and having at least one elastically deformable connecting element () which has a receiving opening () for the wire (), which has a variable diameter (D, D) and in which the wire () is clamped in the region of the first end portion () or the second end portion (), and a contact surface () which abuts against the support surface () of the abutment (). By shortening the length (L) of the wire (), a tensile force (F) can be transmitted from the wire () to the connecting element () by means of which the actuating element () can be moved from the first position (I) into the second position (II) and the contact surface () can be braced against the support surface () in such a manner that a counterforce having a component acting in the radial direction (R) is applied to the connecting element () by the abutment (), the counterforce reducing the diameter (D, D) of the receiving opening () in order to retain the wire () in the connecting element ().