초록 ▼

The implementation of smart materials (shape-memory alloys (SMA) or piezoceramics) as integral actuating devices for single degree-of-freedom (DOF) hinges, thereby providing mobility as well as actuation to a wide range of mechanisms used in industrial, automotive and aircraft systems. A single DOF

The implementation of smart materials (shape-memory alloys (SMA) or piezoceramics) as integral actuating devices for single degree-of-freedom (DOF) hinges, thereby providing mobility as well as actuation to a wide range of mechanisms used in industrial, automotive and aircraft systems. A single DOF hinge is used in which smart materials are used both for actuation and for performance enhancement. The hinge consists of a tang and clevis, two conical inserts, one push block, one bolt and nut, and two washers. Assembly takes place by first putting the push block inside the clevis and putting the tang in place, then inserting the cones, inserting a bolt in the cones and finally tightening the bolt in this arrangement together with the nut to a specified torque. The amount of torque applied is related to the amount of preload in the undisturbed configuration of the hinge and the expansion of the conical inserts required to initiate rotation of the hinge. The smart material of the conical inserts is used to provide rotational mobility to the hinge. Applying a current causes the conical inserts, which are fabricated out of a smart material, to expand, thereby creating a gap between the conical inserts and the clevis. The existence of the free-play caused by the gap allows the clevis to rotate about the hinge\s rotational axis. Once the hinge rotation is complete, the free-play in the hinge is eliminated by restoring the smart material of the conical inserts to the original (undisturbed) configuration, thereby pre-loading the hinge components.

대표청구항 ▼

A hinge comprising: a clevis including at least one through hole, a tang having a through hole, an insert extending into said at least one through hole of said clevis and said through hole of said tang, and a heating element secured to said insert, said clevis including a push block engaging said ta

A hinge comprising: a clevis including at least one through hole, a tang having a through hole, an insert extending into said at least one through hole of said clevis and said through hole of said tang, and a heating element secured to said insert, said clevis including a push block engaging said tang, said insert being made of a smart material for fixing a position of said clevis with respect to said tang in a first configuration of said insert, said insert changing to a second configuration by excitation of said insert due to energerization of said heating element so as to allow said clevis and said tang to move to a different position with respect to each other.