The present invention belongs to the technical field of structural vibration control, and provides a composite axial energy consumption device based on piezoelectricity and shape memory alloy, comprising a screw, steel pipes, stiffening ribs, steel sheets, bolt-nuts, piezoceramics, screw caps and SMA wire bundles. The mechanical energy of the structure under pressure is converted into the electric energy of the piezoceramics and then the electric energy is converted into heat energy, so that energy consumption efficiency is high and mechanical performance is good. The SMA wire bundles have large tensile bearing capacity, shape memory effect and good corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance. The number of the segments and the specifications of the piezoceramics and the SMA wire bundles can be adjusted according to the actual needs, so that the structure can be adjusted according to the size of an axial force and specific stress conditions.

An actuation device (100) includes a plurality of actuation units (101) disposed about an axis (Ar). Each actuation unit of the plurality of actuation units (101) includes a shape memory alloy component (104a-104n), an auxetic material component (105a-105n) operationally coupled to the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n), and a power source (107a-107n) operationally coupled to the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n). Additionally, the actuation device (100) includes a control system (108) operationally coupled to the power source (107a-107n), the control system (108) is configured to actuate the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n) through the power source (108). Further, when actuated, the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n) moves in a direction outward from the axis (Ar) to pull the auxetic material component (105a-105n), and the auxetic material component expands in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n).

An actuator (18) includes a first part (3), a second part (2) and eight shape memory alloy, SMA, wires (4.sub.1, . . . , 4.sub.8) connected between the first part (3) and the second part (2) so as to enable the second part (2) to be moved relative to the first part (3) with at least two degrees of freedom. Two of the SMA wires (4.sub.1, . . . , 4.sub.8) are located on each of four sides (s.sub.1, . . . , s.sub.4). The four sides (s.sub.1, . . . , s.sub.4) extend in a loop around a primary axis (z). On contraction, a first group (4.sub.1, 4.sub.3, 4.sub.5, 4.sub.7) of four of the SMA wires each provide a force on the second part (2) with a component in a first direction along the primary axis (z), and a second group (4.sub.2, 4.sub.4, 4.sub.6, 4.sub.8) of the other four of the SMA wires each provide a force on the second part (2) with a component in a second, opposite direction along the primary axis (z). Each of the eight SMA wires (4.sub.1, . . . , 4.sub.8) is configured such that a length perpendicular to the primary axis (z) is foreshortened relative to a length (l.sub.1, . . . , l.sub.4) of a corresponding one of the four sides (s.sub.1, . . . , s.sub.4).

This device consists of a housing (1) made of electrically insulating material, in which a fuse (6) is provided with at least one main fuse wire (7) located in its cavity. The main fuse wire (7) is electrically conductively connected at one end to at least one connecting pin (2) which is led out of the housing (1) and at the other end it is electrically conductively connected to at least one terminal (3) located in at least one cavity (4) formed in the housing (1). The shape of the connecting pin (2) is adapted for connection to the protected device.

A Bidirectional, Linear and Binary, Segmented Antagonistic Servomechanism-based Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator comprising a main stroke transmitting lever (11 or 18) and a plurality of part-modules (15A or 15B) disposed in a closely spaced arrangement and adapted to undergo a reciprocal translation in a first direction. wherein, the part-modules comprising a plurality of segments having SMA elements (12). The invention provides two configurations arranged in straight and cross configurations of the SMA elements in the part-modules. Further above configuration are arranged in a tight close space however, the cross configuration provides additional 40% compactness. The configurations comprise a S-type long tail or flipped F-type long tail main stroke transmitting lever and plurality of straight or cross configurations part modules, respectively. The novel embodiment can be utilized for micro-positioning of 3D printer filament extruder head, linear and angular displacement applications such as robotic, prosthesis, bi-stable position control, latching-unlatching systems, and other wide engineering applications.

Presently disclosed self-regulating thermal insulation may include one or more thermal actuators that may expand and contract in response to changes in temperature adjacent the thermal insulation, thereby automatically changing the thermal resistance of the thermal insulation. In this manner, a self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to locally adjust in response to local changes in temperature of a part being insulated, for example, during curing or some other manufacturing process. Such self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to respond to temperature changes without feedback control systems, power, or human intervention. One example of self-regulating thermal insulation may include a first plate, a second plate, a support structure coupling the first plate and the second plate and defining an insulation thickness therebetween, an internal partition positioned between the first plate and the second plate, and at least one thermal actuator positioned between the second plate and the internal partition.

Presently disclosed self-regulating thermal insulation may include one or more thermal actuators that may expand and contract in response to changes in temperature adjacent the thermal insulation, thereby automatically changing the thermal resistance of the thermal insulation. In this manner, a self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to locally adjust in response to local changes in temperature of a part being insulated, for example, during curing or some other manufacturing process. Such self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to respond to temperature changes without feedback control systems, power, or human intervention. One example of self-regulating thermal insulation may include a first plate, a second plate, a support structure coupling the first plate and the second plate and defining an insulation thickness therebetween, an internal partition positioned between the first plate and the second plate, and at least one thermal actuator positioned between the second plate and the internal partition.

A Bidirectional, Linear and Binary, Segmented Antagonistic Servomechanism-based Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator comprising a main stroke transmitting lever (11 or 18) and a plurality of part-modules (15A or 15B) disposed in a closely spaced arrangement and adapted to undergo a reciprocal translation in a first direction. wherein, the part-modules comprising a plurality of segments having SMA elements (12). The invention provides two configurations arranged in straight and cross configurations of the SMA elements in the part-modules. Further above configuration are arranged in a tight close space however, the cross configuration provides additional 40% compactness. The configurations comprise a S-type long tail or flipped F-type long tail main stroke transmitting lever and plurality of straight or cross configurations part modules, respectively. The novel embodiment can be utilized for micro-positioning of 3D printer filament extruder head, linear and angular displacement applications such as robotic, prosthesis, bi-stable position control, latching-unlatching systems, and other wide engineering applications.

A Bidirectional, Linear and Binary, Segmented Antagonistic Servomechanism-based Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator comprising a main stroke transmitting lever (11 or 18) and a plurality of part-modules (15A or 15B) disposed in a closely spaced arrangement and adapted to undergo a reciprocal translation in a first direction. wherein, the part-modules comprising a plurality of segments having SMA elements (12). The invention provides two configurations arranged in straight and cross configurations of the SMA elements in the part-modules. Further above configuration are arranged in a tight close space however, the cross configuration provides additional 40% compactness. The configurations comprise a S-type long tail or flipped F-type long tail main stroke transmitting lever and plurality of straight or cross configurations part modules, respectively. The novel embodiment can be utilized for micro-positioning of 3D printer filament extruder head, linear and angular displacement applications such as robotic, prosthesis, bi-stable position control, latching-unlatching systems, and other wide engineering applications.

An actuation device (100) includes a plurality of actuation units (101) disposed about an axis (Ar). Each actuation unit of the plurality of actuation units (101) includes a shape memory alloy component (104a-104n), an auxetic material component (105a-105n) operationally coupled to the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n), and a power source (107a-107n) operationally coupled to the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n). Additionally, the actuation device (100) includes a control system (108) operationally coupled to the power source (107a-107n), the control system (108) is configured to actuate the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n) through the power source (108). Further, when actuated, the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n) moves in a direction outward from the axis (Ar) to pull the auxetic material component (105a-105n), and the auxetic material component expands in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the shape memory alloy component (104a-104n).