A compressor includes a housing, a partition, a first scroll, a second scroll, and a valve assembly disposed within the second scroll. The valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve body, and a first biasing member configured to displace the valve body from a first position to a second position relative to the valve housing. When in the first position, the valve body inhibits fluid communication between a fluid source and one of a series of compression pockets formed by the first and second scroll. When in the second position, the valve body allows fluid communication between the conduit and one or more of the series of compression pockets. The valve body is displaceable between the first and second positions in response to a change in operating temperature of the compressor.

Exemplary embodiments may terminate application of an electric pulse to a shape memory alloy (SMA) element that causes actuation of a medicament pump based on resistance values unlike conventional approaches that rely on a mechanical mechanisms to trigger termination of the application of the electric pulse. The magnitude of the resistance values, the rate of change (RoC) of the resistance values, the temperature of the SMA element, the time that has passed since initial application of the electric pulse to the SMA element, or combinations thereof may be used to trigger the termination of the application of the electric pulse to the SMA element in exemplary embodiments. The monitoring of the resistance of an unactuated SMA element may be used to determine when to initiate and when to terminate application of an electrical pulse to the other SMA element.

An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to contract locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to local exposure to a magnetic field distribution component that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element.

A shape memory actuator including: a monolithic shape memory alloy; a shape memory effect (SME) section of the alloy, configured for actuation; a pseudo-elastic (PE) section of the alloy, configured as a sensor for enabling position sensing; and a control system configured to control the actuator by controlling a current through at least the SME section based on the sensor results of the PE section. A method of controlling a shape memory actuator, the method including: applying a predetermined current through the actuator; measuring a first resistance of the SME section; measuring a second resistance of the PE section; calculating an estimated position of the actuator based on the first and second resistances; and adapting the current applied to the actuator based on the estimated position. A method of manufacturing a shape memory actuator, the method including: laser processing; thermomechanically treating; and training the shape memory alloy.

A compressor may include a first scroll, a second scroll and a modulation system. The first scroll may include a first endplate and a first spiral wrap. The second scroll may include a second endplate and a second spiral wrap interleaved with the first spiral wrap and cooperating to form a plurality of working fluid pockets therebetween. The modulation system may include a temperature-responsive displacement member that actuates in response to a temperature within a space rising above a predetermined threshold. Actuation of the displacement member may be controlled to control a capacity of the compressor.

A compressor includes a housing, a partition, a first scroll, a second scroll, and a thermal protection system. The partition is disposed within the housing and defines a suction chamber and a discharge chamber. The partition includes a discharge passage in fluid communication with the discharge chamber. The thermal protection system includes a positioning body and a displacement member. The positioning body is coupled to the second scroll and translatably disposed within the discharge passage. The displacement member is disposed between the positioning body and the partition and configured to translate the second scroll relative to the first scroll between first and second positions.

An actuator device includes an actuator member, a drive subject, a drive device, and a tension applicator. The actuator member is configured to be deformed in response to application of energy to the actuator member from an outside of the actuator member. The drive subject is coupled to the actuator member. The drive device is configured to apply the energy to the actuator member and thereby displace the drive subject in a deforming direction of the actuator member. The tension applicator is configured to apply the actuator member a tension, which enables correction of a tension change generated by at least one of elongation and contraction of the actuator member that is induced by natural deformation of the actuator member.

An actuator device includes an actuator member, a drive subject, a first drive device and a second drive device. The actuator member is configured to be deformed in response to application of energy to the actuator member from an outside. The drive subject is coupled to the actuator member. The first drive device is configured to apply the energy to the actuator member and thereby displace the drive subject in a deforming direction of the actuator member. The second drive device is configured to displace the drive subject in a different direction that is different from the deforming direction of the actuator member.

A thermally and electrically controllable miniaturised actuator comprises a bi-layer structure formed of a shape-memory alloy layer coupled with an electro-active polymer layer. A heating means is provided for thermal stimulation of the shape-memory alloy layer, this layer transitioning from an initial shape at a first temperature to a second, pre-determined, shape at a second temperature. Application of an electric field to the electro-active polymer layer stimulates this layer to deform in response, with a stress which may exceed that of the alloy layer, when the latter layer is in a low-temperature phase. Actuation methods are further provided, which include stimulating the polymer layer to deform in an opposite direction to the deformation of the alloy layer, thus allowing the actuator to be reset in between strokes. Methods of producing an actuator are also provided.

The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMAs) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements arranged as a plurality of wires positioned substantially parallel with each other to define a core wherein the wires are selected to have different dimensions such that the plurality of wires are activated at substantially the same time in response to a temperature change.