A valve apparatus employs a shape memory alloy. In another aspect, a shape memory member acts as a lock or trigger in combination with a separate actuator or spring to move a valve. Still another aspect uses an externally mounted shape memory member to rotate a valve if an unsafe condition causes mo
A valve apparatus employs a shape memory alloy. In another aspect, a shape memory member acts as a lock or trigger in combination with a separate actuator or spring to move a valve. Still another aspect uses an externally mounted shape memory member to rotate a valve if an unsafe condition causes movement of the member.
대표청구항▼
1. A valve apparatus comprising: a valve assembly including a rotatable valve and a shaft projecting from and rotatable with the valve;a housing including an internal passageway, the valve being rotatable within the passageway to open or close flow therethrough;a shape memory member located outside
1. A valve apparatus comprising: a valve assembly including a rotatable valve and a shaft projecting from and rotatable with the valve;a housing including an internal passageway, the valve being rotatable within the passageway to open or close flow therethrough;a shape memory member located outside the passageway, the shape memory member including an unlooped and elongated middle section contacting the shaft in a nominal operating condition; anda separate spring rotating the valve when the shape memory member is heated. 2. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring is a torsion spring wound around and contacting the shaft, the torsion spring also contacts the housing, and heating of the shape memory member releases the shaft to allow the torsion spring to rotate the valve within the housing. 3. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vehicular fuel tube connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated fuel shut-off valve if a vehicular emergency occurs. 4. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manufacturing plant chemical-carrying tube connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated chemical shut-off valve if a manufacturing plant emergency occurs. 5. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a building sprinkler connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated sprinkler turn-on valve if a building fire occurs. 6. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve is a rotating butterfly valve with flat closing faces. 7. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve is a rotating and substantially spherical ball valve with a bore therethrough. 8. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory member includes a wire which disengages a surface coupled to the shaft when the wire is heated to allow the valve to rotate. 9. The valve apparatus of claim 8, wherein the surface is a side wall of a groove aligned with a middle section of the wire when the shape memory member locks the valve in an open position. 10. The valve apparatus of claim 8, wherein the surface is a side wall of a groove aligned with the section of the wire when the shape memory wire locks the valve in an open position. 11. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory member includes a wire having a substantially inverted U-shape in at least one operating condition. 12. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory member includes a wire which is environmentally heat activated without use of electricity, such that the shape memory member automatically releases the valve if a fire or dangerous temperature is present. 13. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is a polymeric quick connect housing having spaced apart connecting ridges and a substantially T-shape. 14. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring is a torsion spring wound around and contacting the surface, the torsion spring also contacts the housing, and heating of the shape memory wire releases the surface to allow the torsion spring to rotate the valve within the housing. 15. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vehicular fuel tube connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated fuel shut-off valve if a vehicular emergency occurs. 16. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manufacturing plant chemical-carrying tube connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated chemical shut-off valve if a manufacturing plant emergency occurs. 17. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a building sprinkler connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated sprinkler turn-on valve if a building fire occurs. 18. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve is a rotating butterfly valve with flat closing faces. 19. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve is a rotating and substantially spherical ball valve with a bore therethrough. 20. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory wire disengages the surface when the wire is heated to allow the valve to rotate, the housing is polymeric and the section of the shape memory wire is an unlooped and elongated middle portion. 21. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory wire has a substantially inverted U-shape in at least one operating condition. 22. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory wire is environmentally heat activated without use of electricity, such that the shape memory wire automatically releases the valve if a fire or dangerous temperature is present. 23. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is a polymeric quick connect housing having spaced apart connecting ridges and a substantially T-shape. 24. A valve apparatus comprising: a valve assembly including a valve and a shaft projecting from and moveable with the valve;a polymeric housing including an internal passageway, the valve being moveable within the passageway to open or close flow therethrough;a shape memory member located outside the passageway, the shape memory member including an unlooped and elongated wire section contacting a surface coupled to the shaft when in a nominal operating condition; anda separate spring moving the valve when the shape memory member is heated, the spring contacting the polymeric housing, and heating of the shape memory member releases the shaft to allow the spring to move the valve within the polymeric housing; andthe shape memory member disengaging the surface coupled to the shaft when heated to allow the valve to move. 25. The valve apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a vehicular fuel tube connected to the polymeric housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated fuel shut-off valve if a vehicular emergency occurs. 26. The valve apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a manufacturing plant chemical-carrying tube connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated chemical shut-off valve if a manufacturing plant emergency occurs. 27. The valve apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a building sprinkler connected to the housing within which the valve is located, the valve being an automatically activated sprinkler turn-on valve if a building fire occurs. 28. The valve apparatus of claim 24, wherein the valve is a rotating butterfly valve with flat closing faces. 29. The valve apparatus of claim 24, wherein the valve is a rotating and substantially spherical ball valve with a bore therethrough. 30. The valve apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wire of the shape memory member has a substantially inverted U-shape in at least one operating condition. 31. The valve apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wire of the shape memory member is environmentally heat activated without use of electricity, such that the shape memory member automatically releases the valve if a fire or dangerous temperature is present. 32. The valve apparatus of claim 24, wherein the polymeric housing is a quick connect housing having spaced apart connecting ridges adjacent open ends thereof and the housing has a substantially T-shape. 33. The valve apparatus of claim 24, wherein the surface is a side wall of a groove aligned with a middle section of the wire when the shape memory member locks the valve in an open position. 34. A valve apparatus comprising: a valve assembly including a rotatable valve and a surface coupled to and rotatable with the valve;a housing including an internal passageway, the valve being rotatable within the passageway to open or close flow therethrough;a shape memory wire located outside the passageway, the shape memory wire including a section which is straight along at least one plane, the section contacting the surface in a nominal operating condition; anda separate spring rotating the valve when the shape memory wire is actuated.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Lockhart Robert J. (164 Winthrop Rd. Deep River CT 06417), Anti-scald valve with shape memory alloy actuator.
Schreiber Mitchell H. ; Quaranta Joseph S. ; Grooters Thomas E. ; Szabo George ; Krentz Richard H., Quick connect fluid coupling equipped with check valve and service valve.
AbuJudom ; II David N. (Brookfield WI) Thoma Paul E. (Wauwatosa WI) Hajny Roger V. (Cedarburg WI) Linstead Steven A. (North Prairie WI), Shape memory actuator.
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