Abstract: The present invention relates to novel calibrated gauges for use with tire deflators which improve their ease of use, accuracy and consistency. Particularly, these novel gauges enable users to precisely set or maintain the distances between various fixed points on a tire deflator, which correspond to a desired tire pressure, enabling the simplified, precise and reliable setting of that tire deflator. This is a huge improvement as most tire deflators rely on inherently unreliable trial and error calibration of their air pressure settings which may change over time and without indication. More particularly, the present invention enables faster setting times for tire deflators with more reliable results, easier changes between pressure settings, and more accurate tire pressures. Embodiments of this invention include various gauges customized in dimension and material for use with different model tire deflators to achieve various tire pressures as desired.

Abstract: A passively operated thermal diode for controlling heat transfer from heat-generating electronic components to an external environment through an airframe is provided. The thermal diode comprises: (a) an electronics package within the airframe; (b) a heat-transferring mechanism thermally connected to the electronics package and controllably disengagable from thermal contact with the airframe at a predetermined temperature; (c) a shape-memory alloy component having a phase change at the predetermined temperature for thermally disconnecting the electronics package from the airframe once the predetermined temperature is exceeded; and (d) a spring for maintaining the heat-transferring mechanism in thermal contact the airframe below the predetermined temperature. The present invention solves the problem of heat transfer by introducing a shape-memory-alloy sensor-actuator component.