Abstract: A liquid level sensor is arranged to sense a quantity of a liquid within a reservoir. The sensor includes a plurality of discrete sensing units disposed within the reservoir. Each of the plurality of sensing units has an output, and the output has a first value when the sensing unit is immersed in a liquid and a second value, different from the first value, when the sensing unit is not immersed in a liquid. A signal generator is operably electrically coupled to each of the plurality of sensing units. The signal generator is operable to provide an excitation signal to each of the plurality of sensing units. Each of the plurality of sensing units is operable to provide the output responsive to the excitation signal.

Abstract: A fluid bypass valve includes a valve member disposed within a valve chamber of a housing. A temperature based actuating mechanism moves the valve member between a first position and a second position in response to a temperature change. A temporary flow control device undergoes a one-time only shape change between a first shape and a second shape. The temporary flow control device enables fluid communication between a first port and a second port when exhibiting the first shape, and does not enable fluid communication between the first port and the second port when exhibiting the second shape. The temporary flow control device exhibits the first shape when having an initial temperature less than or equal to a second pre-defined temperature, and exhibits the second shape in response to a first heating of the temporary flow control device to a temperature that is greater than the second pre-defined temperature.

Abstract: A device for haptically communicating to an individual includes a haptic unit that is operatively coupled to a remotely located actuator to effect a haptic pulse signal.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. The assembly includes a divider disposed within the cavity and in contact with the housing, at least one electrical contact disposed within the cavity and extending through the divider, and a pin reversibly translatable within the cavity along the axis. The assembly includes at least one actuator element disposed within the cavity and abutting the housing. The element is configured for translating the pin along the axis between a first position wherein the pin contacts the electrical contact and a second position wherein the pin is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The actuator element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the pin between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A thermal bypass valve includes a housing defining a bore along a longitudinal axis and having two inlet ports and two outlet ports; a cap disposed within the bore; a shuttle disposed within the bore and reversibly translatable towards and away from the cap along the longitudinal axis between a first fill position, a cooling position, and a bypass position; and an actuator configured for translating the shuttle along the longitudinal axis between the cooling position and the bypass position. The actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy and is transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: A passive airflow regulation system for controlling temperature of a heat-absorbing subassembly is disclosed. The passive airflow regulation system includes a duct configured to provide a conduit for an incident ambient airflow to the heat-absorbing subassembly. The duct is arranged proximate to the heat-absorbing subassembly. The airflow regulation system includes a valve configured to control passage of the incident ambient airflow through the duct. The airflow regulation system also includes an actuator employing a phase-change element configured to selectively store and release energy in response to changes in temperature and stress. The actuator is arranged at the heat-absorbing subassembly and configured to select a position for the valve between and inclusive of fully-opened and fully-closed in response to a temperature of the heat-absorbing subassembly.

Abstract: Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical equipment, for example, equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. A temperature-sensitive, active material-containing actuator is pre-selected to operate at a pre-determined temperature indicative of impending equipment failure and placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-selected temperature the actuator signals this by closing an externally-powered circuit to enable or provide a suitable alarm signal. Additionally, the actuator may close a second circuit connected to a machine controller to alert the machine controller to take some pre-programmed action. Selected actuators are based on shape memory alloys (SMA) adapted to operate over a temperature range sufficient to encompass the expected range of pre-determined temperatures.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes an elongate valve body having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. A housing is at least partially disposed within a cooperates with the elongate valve body and includes at least one electrical contact. A support member disposed within the elongate valve body cavity cooperates with a plate to communicate with the at least one electrical contact. An actuator element configured for translating the plate along the axis between a first position in which the plate contacts the at least one electrical contact and a second position in which the plate is spaced apart from the at least one electrical contact. The element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the plate between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a body having a axis and defining a cavity therein. The body includes a first plurality of threads disposed about the axis. The assembly includes a housing mated to the body and including at least one electrical contact. The assembly further includes a plate. The assembly also includes an actuator element configured for translating the plate along the axis between a first position in which the plate contacts the at least one electrical contact and a second position in which the plate is spaced apart from the at least one electrical contact. The element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the plate between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. The assembly includes a divider disposed within the cavity and in contact with the housing, at least one electrical contact disposed within the cavity and extending through the divider, and a pin reversibly translatable within the cavity along the axis. The assembly includes at least one actuator element disposed within the cavity and abutting the housing. The element is configured for translating the pin along the axis between a first position wherein the pin contacts the electrical contact and a second position wherein the pin is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The actuator element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the pin between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a shuttle reversibly translatable with respect to an axis. The shuttle defines an at least first outlet port, an at least second outlet port spaced apart from the at least first outlet port, and an inlet port. The valve assembly includes an actuator configured for translating the shuttle with respect to the axis between a first position in which the at least first outlet port and the inlet port are disposed in fluid communication, and a second position in which the at least second outlet port and the inlet port are disposed in fluid communication. The actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a thermal activation signal. A washer system, a device, and a method of alternately washing one of a first component and a second component of the device are disclosed.

Abstract: Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical equipment, for example, equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. A temperature-sensitive, active material-containing actuator is pre-selected to operate at a pre-determined temperature indicative of impending equipment failure and placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-selected temperature the actuator signals this by closing an externally-powered circuit to enable or provide a suitable alarm signal. Additionally, the actuator may close a second circuit connected to a machine controller to alert the machine controller to take some pre-programmed action. Selected actuators are based on shape memory alloys (SMA) adapted to operate over a temperature range sufficient to encompass the expected range of pre-determined temperatures.

Abstract: A quick-return active material actuator adapted for more rapidly returning a load, so as to reduce the de-actuation time of a system, includes in a first aspect a thermally activated active material actuation element drivenly coupled to the load, an active material de-actuation element drivenly coupled to the load non-antagonistic to the actuation element, and a reconfigurable mechanism interconnecting the elements and load, wherein the de-actuation element and mechanism are cooperatively configured to return the load while the actuation element is still activated, and, in a second aspect a thermally activated active material actuation element drivenly coupled to a biased load and operable to autonomously release, so that the load is caused to be returned while the actuation element is still activated, and subsequently re-engage the load.

Abstract: A method of joining wire includes preparing a first discrete region of a first wire at a first end of the first wire. The prepared first discrete region is welded to a component to form a joint such that material of the prepared first discrete region at least partially thickens the joint. The component is one of a second end of the first wire, an end of a second wire, or a non-wire component. The joint may be heat treated according to a three-stage heat treatment process. Mechanical stress may be induced in the joint during the heat treatment so that the joint is subjected to thermo-mechanical processing.

Abstract: A closure release device includes a housing fixedly attached to a closure and an actuating lever rotatably disposed on an axis of rotation on the housing. A crank lever is rotatably disposed on the axis of rotation. A coupling member is to selectively couple the actuating lever to the crank lever for rotation together. A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator is to selectively cause the coupling member to selectively couple the actuating lever to the crank lever. The SMA actuator is electrically actuated. The crank lever is to connect to a latch to selectively release or engage the latch in response to a coupling state of the actuating lever with the crank lever and an actuation state of the actuating lever.

Abstract: A power adjusted seat assembly includes a seat, and is adapted for use when a resting load is present within the seat. The assembly further includes at least one reconfigurable seat structure shiftable between first and second permanent dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions. An active material actuator is drivenly coupled to the structure. A mechanical transmission is drivenly coupled to the structure, so as to act in concert with the actuator, and is configured to receive and modify at least a portion of the load. The actuator and transmission are cooperatively configured to cause the structure to shift between the first and second permanent dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions, when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated.

Abstract: An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction.

Abstract: An inlet, positioned to access the flow of air passing around and under a moving vehicle, may draw in air which is conveyed through a duct and discharged to cool a brake on a vehicle. The inlet has a closure. The closure is opened and closed on demand by a temperature-operated actuator incorporating an active or smart material under the direction of a controller. In embodiments, a sensor, suitably positioned to sense a temperature representative of the brake temperature, communicates the sensed brake temperature to the controller. The controller may respond to the sensed brake temperature, by triggering operation of the actuator. Typically the closure is opened to allow passage of cooling air to the brake when the sensed brake temperature exceeds, or is anticipated to exceed, a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a housing defining a cavity, an actuator formed from an alloy transitionable between first and second states, a plunger attached to the actuator, and a resilient member configured for translating the plunger within the cavity. The plunger is not translatable during a first condition in which a coating of debris is disposed on the housing as the alloy transitions between the first and second states to define a first stress on the actuator. The plunger is translatable during a second condition in which the housing is substantially free from the coating as the alloy transitions to define a second stress on the actuator that is less than the first stress. The alloy transitions from the first to the second state at a first transformation temperature during the first condition, and at a second transformation temperature that is less than the first temperature during the second condition.