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. 04, 2022
Filed:
Mar. 30, 2021
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Ryohei Tsuruta, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Brian J. Pinkelman, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Umesh N. Gandhi, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Paul A. Gilmore, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Mark E. Smith, Fenton, MI (US);
Eric D. Smith, Northville, MI (US);
Shardul Singh Panwar, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
A remote actuator includes one or more bi-stable strips with at least one shape memory composite (SMC) spring connected to each bi-stable strip. The SMC spring includes a thermoplastic and an electrical and/or thermal conductor for transforming the length of the SMC spring upon heating. The contraction of the SMC spring transforms the bi-stable strip from its coiled stable state to its elongated stable state. The displacement of the SMC spring can be amplified by a simple machine included in the remote actuator. The remote actuator can include a shape memory alloy (SMA) strip for transforming the bi-stable strip from its elongated stable state to it curved stable state upon heating. Heating can be by Joule heating or from an adjacent heat source.