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 lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device includes an annular rotator disposed along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device also includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device includes a first element operably connected to the latch and formed from a first shape memory alloy and a second element operably connected to the latch and formed from a second shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable with respect to the body along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes an annular rotator spaced apart from the body along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device also includes an element attached to the latch and formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to an activation signal to thereby transition the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: A transmission fluid circuit for regulating the flow of a fluid includes a transmission, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a spool, and an actuator including a smart material. The spool is movable inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The smart material is configured to be in an activated state in response to the fluid exhibiting at least a first temperature and to be in a deactivated state in response to the fluid being a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature. The fluid flows from the housing to the transmission and from the transmission to the housing when the spool is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler, from the cooler to the transmission, and from the transmission to the housing when the spool is in the second position.

Abstract: A valve manifold includes a housing defining an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. Each of the plurality of outlet ports defines a sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of poppets, wherein each of the plurality of poppets is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of outlet ports and is configured for translating towards and away from the sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of actuators each configured for translating a respective one of the plurality of poppets towards and away from the sealing face, wherein each of the plurality of actuators 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 simultaneously controlling fluid flow to a first component and a second component of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A push-push latch includes a slider slidably disposed on a frame. A resilient element is to urge the slider toward an extended state. The slider or the frame defines a cam-track. A pin member is connected to the frame or the slider. The pin member selectably engages a closed course in the cam-track to cause the slider to alternate between a retracted state and the extended state in response to alternating application and removal of an actuating force on the slider. An interference member is on the frame to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course thereby locking the slider in the retracted state. A pivotable catch is rotatably on the slider to open in the extended state and to close in the retracted state. A shape memory alloy actuator selectively causes the interference member to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course.

Abstract: A deployable camera system for a vehicle includes a body defining a cavity therein, and a camera including a housing having an exterior surface. The camera is reversibly transitionable between a stowed position in which the camera is recessed into the cavity and the exterior surface is substantially flush with the body, and a deployed position wherein the camera protrudes from the cavity and the exterior surface is not substantially flush with the body. The deployable camera system includes a first shape memory alloy element transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a first thermal activation signal.

Abstract: A valve manifold includes a housing defining an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. Each of the plurality of outlet ports defines a sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of poppets, wherein each of the plurality of poppets is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of outlet ports and is configured for translating towards and away from the sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of actuators each configured for translating a respective one of the plurality of poppets towards and away from the sealing face, wherein each of the plurality of actuators 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 simultaneously controlling fluid flow to a first component and a second component of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

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 lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device includes an annular rotator disposed along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device also includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device includes a first element operably connected to the latch and formed from a first shape memory alloy and a second element operably connected to the latch and formed from a second shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable with respect to the body along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes an annular rotator spaced apart from the body along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device also includes an element attached to the latch and formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to an activation signal to thereby transition the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: A transmission fluid circuit for regulating the flow of a fluid includes a transmission, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a spool, and an actuator including a smart material. The spool is movable inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The smart material is configured to be in an activated state in response to the fluid exhibiting at least a first temperature and to be in a deactivated state in response to the fluid being a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature. The fluid flows from the housing to the transmission and from the transmission to the housing when the spool is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler, from the cooler to the transmission, and from the transmission to the housing when the spool is in the second position.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer storage configured for determining period-ending positions of multiple parts movable by select actuation of corresponding active materials. The operations include receiving, from a work-source sensor, work-source input indicating a distance moved by the work source and a direction of the movement, and determining, based on the work-source input and a first and second status histories, corresponding to a first and a second part, respectively, first and second distances travelled by the parts, respectively. Operations also include calculating, based on the first and second distances determined and first and second period-starting positions, corresponding to the first and second parts, respectively, first and second period-ending positions for the first and second parts, respectively.

Abstract: An actuator system for use in selectively engaging an input to an output. The actuator system includes an input sub-system having an input component configured to connect to an input element which is in turn connected to a work source. The actuator system also includes an output sub-system being connectable to the input sub-system for receiving work from the work source via the input sub-system. The actuator system further includes an actuator sub-system having an active material and an actuating component. The actuator sub-system is configured so that the active material, when activated, causes the actuating component to move from a first state to a second state to disengage the input and output sub-systems.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a first heat engine, a second heat engine, and an nth heat engine. The heat engines each include at least two rotatable pulleys and a first shape memory alloy (SMA) member. The SMA member is disposed about the at least two rotatable pulleys and defines an SMA pulley ratio. The second heat engine is disposed adjacent the first heat engine. The nth heat engine is disposed such that the second heat engine is disposed between the first heat engine and the nth heat engine. The first SMA member, the second SMA member, and the nth SMA member are configured such that a thermal energy conversion efficiency between the hot temperature region and the cold temperature region is nearly 100%.

Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

Abstract: A push-push latch includes a slider slidably disposed on a frame. A resilient element is to urge the slider toward an extended state. The slider or the frame defines a cam-track. A pin member is connected to the frame or the slider. The pin member selectably engages a closed course in the cam-track to cause the slider to alternate between a retracted state and the extended state in response to alternating application and removal of an actuating force on the slider. An interference member is on the frame to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course thereby locking the slider in the retracted state. A pivotable catch is rotatably on the slider to open in the extended state and to close in the retracted state. A shape memory alloy actuator selectively causes the interference member to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course.

Abstract: A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, includes a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface. The heat engine system also includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy. The air layer has a first temperature, and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. In addition, the heat engine system includes a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine. A vehicle includes a body defining an interior compartment and having an underside surface spaced opposite the road surface, and the heat engine system.

Abstract: A baffle controller for moving a baffle disposed within an HVAC outlet housing between an open position and a closed position to control airflow through an HVAC outlet in a vehicle includes a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator that is controlled and actuated by an electrical signal. The SMA actuator rotates a main lever that rotates a valve plate. The valve plate is attached to the baffle such that the baffle rotates with the valve plate. The baffle controller may include a position biasing device that increases a position holding ability of the baffle controller, and a cut-off switch that interrupts the electrical signal to the SMA actuator to prevent over-rotating the baffle.