Actuator for a heating/cooling diffuser

Patent · Tue Oct 13 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5777709

Faurie, D B

A thermally responsive actuator is described comprising: first helical spring means of shape memory alloy having first and second ends extending in a generally parallel direction when the shape memory alloy is at a temperature below the crystalline phase transformation temperature; tension spring means having first and second ends; actuator support means having a first attachment portion for fixedly securing the first end of the helical spring means and a second attachment portion for securing the first end of the tension spring means; link means having first and second ends and including legs connected by bends; pivotable means pivotable about a fixed point between two positions connected to the second end of the link means whereby when the helical spring is at a temperature below the crystalline phase transformation, the tension spring provides a bias for positioning the pivotable means in a first one of the two positions and when the helical spring is at a temperature above the crystalline phase transformation the second end of the helical spring moves away from the fixedly secured first end of the helical spring means against the bias of the tension spring means to cause movement of the link means to move the pivotable means into the second one of the positions.

• Assignee: Carrier Corp., Syracuse, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4699314
• OSTI ID: 5777709
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ACTUATORS
ALLOYS
CONTROL
COOLING SYSTEMS
CRYSTAL-PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
DESIGN
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HEATERS
MACHINE PARTS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OPERATION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPRINGS
SUPPORTS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES