A hybrid fluid-flow assembly having a base fitting that has been formed by axial load bulge forming from a sheet of metal, and a custom fitting that has been machined from a shaped-memory alloy. At least one connection port of the custom fitting is connected to at least one connection port of the base fitting by an interference fit. The interference fit is formed by cooling the custom fitting to a temperature below its transition temperature, deforming the custom fitting so that the diameter of its connection port is slightly larger than the connection port on the base fitting, installing the connection port of the custom fitting on the connection port of the base fitting, and allowing the custom fitting to warm to room temperature. The shaped-memory alloy swages and coins the outer surface of the base fitting at the interface of the ports, thereby forming a compressive, interference fit.

A multi-axis payload isolation device for isolating a payload from outside motions. The multi-axis payload isolation device includes a payload mount base, a housing, and a flexure. The payload mount base is configured to support a payload. The housing includes an interior cavity for receiving and supporting the payload mount base. The flexure includes a plurality of radial supports and a common hub. The plurality of radial supports attach the payload mount base to the housing and are made of a superelastic shape-memory alloy. The common hub is configured to connect each of the plurality of radial supports to the payload mount base.

A formed body of Cu—Al—Mn-based shape-memory alloy may include a screw portion, wherein the screw portion is a form-rolled portion. A method for producing a formed body of Cu—Al—Mn-based shape-memory alloy may involve forming a screw portion having superelasticity by plastically working at least a portion of a material for the formed body with form-rolling in a state that a crystal structure is an A2-type structure and then, subjecting heat-treatment so as to convert the A2-type crystal structure into an L.sub.21-type crystal structure. The screw portion can be formed with good working property, and has excellent fatigue resistance and breaking resistance.

The proposed morphable sheet structure comprises a succession of adjacent flexible elongated rods (10) laterally connected to each other defining a sheet structure (1), each rod (10) defining a longitudinal axis (A); wherein the rods (10) are grouped in pairs, each pair of adjacent rods (10) are connected to each other through a first connector (11) tightly connected to a second connector (12) complementary with the first connector (11), being the first connector (11) part of one rod (10) of said pair of adjacent rods (10) and being the second connector (12) part of the other rod (10) of said pair of adjacent rods (10); being the first connector (11) and the second connector (12) slidably movable to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A); the first connector (11) and/or the second connector (12) extending along the entire longitude of the rod (10).

A connector for joining concrete structures such as double tee beams to one another. The connector includes a curved bolt that is formed with a shape memory alloy. Through utilization of the bolt, a joint can be post-tensioned following assembly through application of heat to the joint. Post-tensioning can be reapplied following loosening of the joint through application of heat. When considering a super elastic shape memory alloy, the bolt can be a smart bolt that can self-correct following deformation due to excessive load.

Embodiments of the present techniques provide methods for assembling and manufacturing shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assemblies, which may also advantageously simplify the process of, speed-up the process of and/or reduce the cost of manufacturing SMA actuator assemblies.

The disclosure provides a connection and separation device driven by memory alloy wires, including an active end and a passive end. The active end includes a housing, an outer sleeve, fixed sheets, compression springs, a rotating sleeve, a base, memory alloy wires, guide wheels, a lock pin, a limiting sleeve I and a limiting sleeve II. The passive end includes a screw rod, a loading nut, a separation element and an adaptor. The upper end of the screw rod is provided with a threaded section matched with the loading nut, and the lower end of the screw rod is provided with multi-layer oblique protrusions. The multi-layer oblique protrusions extend into the upper part of an accommodating space formed by the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II. The memory alloy wires are shortened when being electrified, the base and the lock pin move up, the lock pin releases the limit on the lower ends of the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II, the two limiting sleeves rotate at the same time, the lower parts of the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II are folded, and the upper parts of the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II are opened and separated from the screw rod, so as to realize the separation of the active end and the passive end. The disclosure realizes quick separation and has the advantages of no impact, energy saving and environmental protection, small size, high reliability and reusability.

A multi-flexure payload isolation device for isolating a payload from outside forces. The device can include a housing comprising an interior cavity configured to receive and support the payload. The device can further include a first flexure and a second flexure, each including a plurality of spokes made of a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy anchored to the housing and configured to support the payload from the housing through an opening in the housing. The first and second flexures can each further include a common hub attached to a side of the payload and disposed in the opening in the housing wherein the each of the pluralities of spokes are anchored to the respective common hub.

A quick connection and/or fastening system suited to mutually connect and disconnect a first and a second element is disclosed, the system including a first and a second component that are suited to be rigidly fixed to the first and second elements, respectively, the first component and the second component being also suited to be mutually connected and disconnected, the second component being suited to house an end portion of the first component in such a way as to allow its translation inside the second component, the second component comprising also counteracting elements suited to counteract the translation of the end portion of the first component towards the outside of the second component.

An energy harvesting system, fastener, use of an energy harvesting system and method for the conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy are provided, the harvesting system being made, at least partially, of a piezoelectrical material, wherein the fastener is configured to guarantee the joining of a plurality of components of a mechanical apparatus, and the method comprising conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy at each junction area having the disclosed fastener.