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:
May. 30, 2017
Filed:
Jan. 09, 2015
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Sahrudine Apdalhaliem, Seattle, WA (US);
Moushumi Shome, Kent, WA (US);
Kimberly D. Meredith, Newcastle, WA (US);
Waeil M. Ashmawi, Bellevue, WA (US);
Morteza Safai, Newcastle, WA (US);
Frederick T. Calkins, Renton, WA (US);
THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to an SMA actuator that includes a cooling device disposed within a torque tube. In one aspect, the cooling device includes a sliding sleeve, an expandable sleeve, and plurality of cooling fins coupled to the expandable sleeve. Axial movement of the sliding sleeve relative to the expandable sleeve facilitates radial expansion of the expandable sleeve and urges the cooling fins into contact with the torque tube. The cooling fins function as heat sinks when in contact with the torque tube to facilitate the removal of heat from the torque tube to increase the cooling rate of the torque tube. During heating of the torque tube, the cooling fins may be spaced apart from the torque tube to reduce the thermal mass that is heated, thus increasing the heating rate of the torque tube.