A device which is attachable to a fastener stack, the device comprising: an attachment element made of shape memory material; and a cap comprising a base having an aperture and a shell having an interior space in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the base supports the shell and is coupled to the attachment element.

A deployable invasive device includes a transducer with a plurality of elements linked by at least one shape memory material configured to move the plurality of elements relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to a stimulus. The shape memory material comprises at least one active region configured to facilitate transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The deployable invasive device includes at least one integrated circuit configured to process signals from at least one of the plurality of elements and a plurality of conductive traces on or in the shape memory material and extending through the active region. The conductive traces are configured to conduct signals to the at least one integrated circuit, wherein the conductive traces are configured to conform as the shape memory material moves the elements between the first configuration and the second configuration.

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 apparatus for holding and releasing a pin in a controlled manner comprises a base, a pin holding element supported at the base, a plurality of rod-shaped release elements made of a shape memory alloy and supported at the base, a holding force application device supported at the base for applying an elastic holding force, and a force transfer element. The force transfer element is subjected to the elastic holding force and, against the elastic holding force, supported at the base via a parallel arrangement of the pin holding element and the release elements. The release elements are arranged with radial play in blind holes in the base, which are arranged around the pin holding element. The pin holding element is deactivatable by heating up the release elements beyond a transition temperature of their shape memory alloy and by a resulting recovery of the release elements to straight memory shapes.

This present invention utilizes a shape memory alloy (SMA) to improve on prior art in the design of clamps used for shut off, squeeze off, of plastic pipe which transmits gas or fluid under pressure. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention incorporates SMAs as actuators to simplify and improve clamp design for squeeze off of plastic pipe that is used in the transmission of pressurized gas and fluid. This invention may be deployed and operated remotely by the user. This present invention relates specifically to the application of trained SMA tubes, rods, bars, and beams as actuators for clamping and squeeze off of plastic pipe and tubing used to transmit gas or fluid.

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.

Various implementations include a method of manufacturing one or more devices. The method includes obtaining a base portion of a non-shape-memory metal, disposing one or more shape-memory metal portions along the base portion, and joining at least a first layer of the non-shape-memory metal to the base portion using ultrasonic additive manufacturing. The shape-memory metal portions are disposed along a first base surface of the base portion. The shape-memory metal portions have a first portion contacting the base portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion and extending from the base portion. The first layer is joined to the base portion using ultrasonic additive manufacturing and has a first layer surface that is joined to the first base surface. The first layer surface contacts the shape-memory metal portions when the first layer is joined to the base portion.

Various implementations include a method of manufacturing one or more devices. The method includes obtaining a base portion of a non-shape-memory metal, disposing one or more shape-memory metal portions along the base portion, and joining at least a first layer of the non-shape-memory metal to the base portion using ultrasonic additive manufacturing. The shape-memory metal portions are disposed along a first base surface of the base portion. The shape-memory metal portions have a first portion contacting the base portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion and extending from the base portion. The first layer is joined to the base portion using ultrasonic additive manufacturing and has a first layer surface that is joined to the first base surface. The first layer surface contacts the shape-memory metal portions when the first layer is joined to the base portion.

A method of inserting a pin in a bore of an article may include first providing an article with a bore, the bore having an inside diameter. The method may then include providing a pin having a hollow body, the hollow body having a diameter with a profile with a pattern of voids. The method may then include applying an axial force on an end of the hollow body to cause the diameter of the pin to reduce in size to a point where the diameter of the pin is less than the inside diameter of the article. The method may further include aligning the pin inside of the bore of the article, and then removing the axial force on the end of the hollow body.

A microfluidic device, including a controllable shape-changing micropillar where a shape of the shape-changing micropillar is changed by a fluid.