Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.

Abstract: Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.

Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.

Abstract: A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy element is disclosed that is configured to undergo a graded phase change along a dimension of the shape memory alloy element in response to thermal stimulus. This graded phase change produces a graded displacement response of the shape memory element.

Abstract: Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are disclosed herein. An example of the MR fluid includes a carrier fluid, magnetic particles disposed in the carrier fluid, and non-magnetic particles disposed in the carrier fluid. The non-magnetic particles are particles of a shape memory alloy having an Austenite finish temperature (Af) that is lower than a temperature encountered in an application in which the MR fluid is used so that the shape memory alloy exhibits stress-induced superelasticity.

Abstract: The gravimetric and volumetric efficiency of lithium ion batteries may be increased if high capacity materials like tin and silicon may be employed as the lithium-accepting host in the negative electrode of the battery. But both tin and silicon, when fully charged with lithium, undergo expansions of up to 300% and generate appreciable internal stresses which have potential to spall off material from the electrode on each discharge-charge cycle, resulting in a progressive reduction in battery capacity, also known as battery fade. A method of reinforcing such electrode materials by incorporating within them fiber reinforcements or shaped, elongated reinforcements fabricated of shape memory alloy is described. Electrode materials incorporating such reinforcements are less prone to damage under applied stress and so less prone to battery fade.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a marine seismic survey of a subsurface. The method includes deploying under water, from a deploying vessel, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV); recording with seismic sensors located on the AUV seismic waves generated by an acoustic source array; instructing the AUV to surface at a certain depth relative to the water surface; recovering the AUV by bringing the AUV on a recovery vessel; and transferring recorded seismic data to the recovery vessel.

Abstract: A measuring device measures distances via a thin retractable wire with a removable head. Distance is calculated and displayed on a very bright, large LED or other type screen. As the wire is extended, a microprocessor calculates the distance and displays it on its screen. The digital measuring device comprises a housing, a very thin extendable wire, cable or tape, a rotating spool, (from which the wire extends then automatically retracts to), a sensor which measures the amount of wire extended, a microprocessor, a tiny flash drive or other type of memory storage, a microphone/speaker, a large (size of unit) mono or duo chromatic or other type of display screen (LED) and a few buttons and/or a menu driven interface which control functionally. A plurality of removable heads may be attached to the wire for performing different measuring functions.

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 driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller.

Abstract: A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element.

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: A fastener arrangement comprises: a) a fastener receiver (12) having a lip (13); b) a fastener element (14) having a body part (15) and a resiliently connected latch member (16) having a hook (17) adapted to engage the lip; c) the body part comprising a fulcrum (18) adapted to bear against the receiver at a position spaced from the lip when the hook engages the lip, with relative flexure of the body part and the latch member giving rise to a force holding the hook under the lip and the fulcrum against the receiver; d) the body part having a press-to-engage, press-to-release actuator member (19) connected to the body part on the side of the fulcrum remote from the latch member; f) the hook having a camming face which, when the engaged fastener element is tipped about the fulcrum by pressure on the actuator member, cooperates with the lip to flex the latch member away from the lip to release the latch member so that the fastener element can be withdrawn from the receiver. A no-release version is also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable seismic source for generating a seismic wave in the ground. The portable seismic source includes a casing containing an impulsive energy device; a base plate configured to be placed on the ground; and a stabilizing foot mechanism configured to be provided between the casing and the base plate. The stabilizing foot mechanism includes a stabilizer which is fixed relative to the casing and configured to be placed on the base plate and a stanchion that is configured to move relative to the stabilizer and to enter through the stabilizer and apply a force on the base plate when energy is applied from the impulsive energy device.

Abstract: A multi-segmented active material actuator producing a variable, tailored, or staged/staggered stroke in response to an activation signal, including a plurality of segments joined in series, having differing constituencies and geometric configurations, and presenting differing activation thresholds, activation periods/rates, and/or strokes as a result.

Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.

Abstract: A method of detecting a brain tumor includes administering indocyanine green to a living body; exposing brain tissue in the living body; irradiating the exposed brain tissue with excitation light of indocyanine green; obtaining an image based on fluorescence of the excited indocyanine green in the brain tissue, wherein the image is obtained using an endomicroscope; and identifying portions of the brain tissue corresponding to the brain tumor based on the image.