A hinge-type actuator device in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first and second paddle, a first and second artificial muscle actuator segment, and a plurality of contacts, where the first and second artificial muscle actuator segments are actuated via the contacts, actuation of the first artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to open the hinge-type actuator, and actuation of the second artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to close the hinge-type actuator.

An actuator device that includes a first fiber, a conducting material, and a coating. The coating coats the first fiber or the conducting material. The coating may also provide moisture protection, UV protection, thermal insulation and thermal conductivity.

An actuator device that includes a conducting material and at least one fuse incorporated into the conducting material is disclosed. The at least one fuse may stop current flow for temperatures above a specific temperature. The actuator device may also include a series of electronics that determine whether the actuating device has blown the at least one fuse.

A metamaterial having a programmed thermal expansion when exposed to a temperature condition is described. The metamaterial includes a lattice structure composed of a plurality of interconnected unit cells, each of the unit cells comprising two or more bi-material building blocks having first material elements and second material elements. The first material elements have a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the second material elements having a second CTE, the first CTE being greater than the second CTE. The bi-material building blocks have a topology with two or more vertices formed at junctions between said first material elements and said second material elements. One of the first material elements interconnects and extends between two of the second material elements at the vertices. The first material elements deforming substantially long a longitudinal axis thereof to cause the bi-material building blocks to be stretch-dominated when deforming in response to temperature changes.

A bypass system has a source of a fluid to be cooled and a heat exchanger for selectively cooling fluid. A piston is moveable along an axis allowing movement of a valve poppet toward and away from the valve seat. The piston moves with a rigid seal carrier. The rigid seal carrier and the piston move within a valve housing. A wax element is disposed on an opposed axial side of the rigid seal carrier relative to a chamber, such that the wax element expands as a temperature of the fluid to be cooled increases, and causes the valve poppet to move against the valve seat. A bypass valve is also disclosed.

Actuator assemblies comprising a core made up of a shape memory alloy wire and a coating containing a distribution of Phase Changing Material (PCM) particles with a given weight ratio between said particles and said shape memory alloy wire, and active cloths incorporating one or more of said actuator assemblies.

A bypass system has a source of a fluid to be cooled and a heat exchanger for selectively cooling fluid. A piston is moveable along an axis allowing movement of a valve poppet toward and away from the valve seat. The piston moves with a rigid seal carrier. The rigid seal carrier and the piston move within a valve housing. A wax element is disposed on an opposed axial side of the rigid seal carrier relative to a chamber, such that the wax element expands as a temperature of the fluid to be cooled increases, and causes the valve poppet to move against the valve seat. A bypass valve is also disclosed.

An actuator includes a plurality of artificial muscle fibers and at least one conducting material. The at least one conducting material electrically stimulates the plurality of artificial muscle fibers during activation of the actuator. An actuator device includes at least one artificial muscle fiber and at least one high-strength creep-resistant fiber.

An actuator device that includes a conducting material and at least one fuse incorporated into the conducting material is disclosed. The at least one fuse may stop current flow for temperatures above a specific temperature. The actuator device may also include a series of electronics that determine whether the actuating device has blown the at least one fuse.

An apparatus includes a thermal actuator switch configured to control a transfer of thermal energy through the thermal actuator switch. The thermal actuator switch includes first and second plates and a piston movable laterally between the first and second plates. The thermal actuator switch also includes a phase change material configured to (i) expand to move a surface of the piston into a first position and (ii) contract to allow the surface of the piston to move into a second position. The surface of the piston thermally contacts the first plate and increases thermal energy transfer between the first and second plates when in one of the first and second positions. The surface of the piston is spaced apart from the first plate and decreases thermal energy transfer between the first and second plates when in another of the first and second positions.