초록 ▼

A rotary actuator includes a bar made of shape memory alloy having ends provided with thermally insulating interface elements for interfacing with elements that are to be rotated relative to each other. An electric heater surrounds the bar and is apt to heat it above its transition temperature to th

A rotary actuator includes a bar made of shape memory alloy having ends provided with thermally insulating interface elements for interfacing with elements that are to be rotated relative to each other. An electric heater surrounds the bar and is apt to heat it above its transition temperature to the austenitic domain. The actuator is suitable for deploying or rotating solar panels.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A rotary actuator comprising:a single bar of shape memory material having ends arranged to mutually rotate about an axis of said bar,a pair of thermally insulating interface means each for interfacing one of said ends with one of two elements that are to be rotated relative to each

[ We claim:] [1.] A rotary actuator comprising:a single bar of shape memory material having ends arranged to mutually rotate about an axis of said bar,a pair of thermally insulating interface means each for interfacing one of said ends with one of two elements that are to be rotated relative to each other by said bar, each of said pair comprising a plurality of mutually coaxial tubular lengths of a metal having low thermal conductivity surrounding a respective end portion of the bar, said lengths being in mechanical series relation, a first one of said lengths being connected to a respective one of said ends and a terminal one of said lengths being connected to one of said elements; andelectric heater means surrounding said bar for heating said bar from a temperature where said material is martensitic to a temperature where said material is austenitic.