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.

A device, having: a base having an outer boundary and a plurality of base voids, formed from a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); beads that line ones of the base voids, formed from a second material having a second CTE that differs from the first CTE, wherein each of the beads has a bead void; and a thermoelectric junction around the outer boundary, or within one or more of the bead voids.

A heat engine is provided. The heat engine includes a chassis, a work output member, and an operating mechanism for operating the work output member. The chassis supports one or more heat engine components, including the work output member. The work output member is adapted to generate and output mechanical power to an electric power generation system for generating electrical power. The operating mechanism includes a first actuator band array and a second actuator band array connected to displace the work output member in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, in response to heat exposure. A heat switching mechanism is operable to cyclically expose each of the first and second actuator band array to heat to cause cyclic displacement of the work output member in the first and second direction for generating the mechanical power.

Provided are an actuation apparatus and an electronic product that belong to the field of actuation apparatus technology. The actuation apparatus includes a support seat, a transmission member, an execution member, a roller, and a shape memory alloy line. The transmission member is slidably disposed on the support seat in a first direction. An abutting surface is disposed on the transmission member. The execution member is slidably disposed on the support seat in a second direction. The roller is rotatably disposed on the execution member. The shape memory alloy line is disposed on the support seat. When powered on and working, the shape memory alloy line is able to drive the transmission member to move. When the transmission member moves, the abutting surface matches the roller to drive the execution member to move. The electronic product includes the preceding actuation apparatus.

A landing door of an elevator system includes a door leaf that is equipped with an integrated operating and/or display panel. In the event of a fire, a printed circuit board of the operating and/or display panel is removed from the door leaf by activation of an ejection device comprising intumescent material and being positioned in the door leaf.

Provided are an actuation apparatus and an actuation method that belong to the field of actuation apparatus technology. The actuation apparatus includes a support seat, a swing arm, an braking arm, an elastic member, a first shape memory alloy line, and a second shape memory alloy line. The swing arm is mounted on the support seat and rotatable about a swing axis. The swing arm is provided with a first force-bearing portion, an execution portion, and an braking portion. The distance from the first force-bearing portion to the swing axis is shorter than the distance from the execution portion to the swing axis. The braking arm is movably mounted on the support seat. The elastic member is clamped between the support seat and the braking arm and configured to drive the braking arm to stop against the braking portion.

The invention relates to a thermoelastic actuator (1) for providing a rotary actuating motion, comprising: an actuating element (4) for outputting the rotatory actuating motion; an antagonistic actuator unit (2) coupled with the actuating element (4) to convert a translational movement into the rotary actuating motion;
wherein the antagonistic actuator unit (2) comprises: at least two electrically separately activatable thermoelastic actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b), each extending in an extension direction (R) from a first end to a second end and arranged parallel to each other; a carriage element (24), which is movably guided in the direction (R), where the thermoelastic actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b) are each connected at the second end to the carriage element (24), so that upon a change of shape upon activation of one of the actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b), a pulling force is exerted on the carriage element (24) to translationally move the carriage element (24); an electrical connection between the first ends of the actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b) connected to the carriage element (24), so that a common electrical potential is applied to the actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b) via the carriage element (24).

A heat engine is provided. The heat engine includes a chassis, a work output member, and an operating mechanism for operating the work output member. The chassis supports one or more heat engine components, including the work output member. The work output member is adapted to generate and output mechanical power to an electric power generation system for generating electrical power. The operating mechanism includes a first actuator band array and a second actuator band array connected to displace the work output member in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, in response to heat exposure. A heat switching mechanism is operable to cyclically expose each of the first and second actuator band array to heat to cause cyclic displacement of the work output member in the first and second direction for generating the mechanical power.

The thermally responsive actuator described in this disclosure includes a housing, a thermal expansion material, a piston, and a closure assembly. The housing has an internal cavity and an opening that leads into the cavity. The thermal expansion material is placed inside the cavity. The piston extends at least partially through the opening into the cavity. The closure assembly, which includes a cover and a sealing system, is attached to the housing at the opening. It covers the opening and surrounds the piston. The sealing system includes two sealing members: a first and a second. The housing and/or the cover has two separate compartmentsone for each sealing memberpositioned along the same axis but separated by the cover.

The simultaneous enhancement of photo-thermal actuation, optical flexibility, and structural stability of a multi-layered polymeric structure made possible by the integration of an interfacial graphene nanogap layer (iGL) is presented. The present disclosure provides a geometric arrangement of a graphene layer at the interface between a conducting metal layer and optically transparent elastomer layer causing large strain mismatch owing to negative thermal expansion. As a result, rapid and significantly enhanced photo-actuation of the pore membrane/micro shutter structure is achieved, which is 100% larger and faster than conventional cases between 25 C. and 120 C. Furthermore, the iGL enables timely, structurally consistent, and durable actuation performances independent of the environmental parameters such as working phases or light illumination angles. Given these features, an actuator employing the iGL provides rapid and sensitive stimulus operation of light control.