Disclosed are devices, systems, apparatuses, methods, products, and other implementations of vapor pressure solids. In some embodiments, a vapor pressure solid may include a one- or multi-component matrix material. In some embodiments, the multi-components matrix material is a two-part PDMS comprising a first and second matrix material. The first matrix material is capable of being mixed with one or more vaporizable fluids that causes the first matrix material to swell. The second matrix material is capable of being mixed with the swelled first matrix material to produce an actuating material. When the actuating material is heated, the one or more vaporizable fluids expand, resulting in vapors. The increased pressure applied by the vapors causes the actuating material to expand.

An expansion material element (1) for a thermostatic mixing valve (2), having an expansion material (3) comprising at least one additive (4) from the group below: synthetic graphite, highly conductive graphite having a thermal conductivity of at least 350W/(m?K), boronnitride;
a thermostatic mixing valve (2) having such an expansion material element (1); and a sanitary faucet (8) having such a thermostatic mixing valve (2).

With applications such as soft robotics being severely hindered by the lack of strong soft actuators, the invention provides a new soft-actuator materialElectrically Actuated Hydraulic Solid (EAHS) materialwith a stress-density that outperforms any known electrically-actuatable material. One type of actuator is fabricated by making a closed cell that acts as highly paralyzed version of a standard paraffin actuator. Each cell exhibits microscopic expansion, which is summed to produce macroscopic motion. The closed cellular nature of the material allows the system to be cut and punctured and still operate. It can be produced in a lab or industrial scale, and can be formed using molding, 3D printing or cutting.

A thermal actuator for a rotating shaft shutdown seal that has a piston with a portion of its axial length enclosed within a chamber shell with a material that expands upon a rise in temperature. The portion of the actual length of the piston within the chamber has at least two different diameters with the larger diameter leading in the direction of travel of the piston. Upon a rise in temperature, expansion of the material surrounding the piston within the chamber creates a force on the piston in the desired direction of travel. Below a preselected temperature the piston is positively locked with a passive release when the preselected temperature is reached.

A thermal actuator for a rotating shaft shutdown seal that has a piston with a portion of its axial length enclosed within a chamber shell with a material that expands upon a rise in temperature. The portion of the actual length of the piston within the chamber has at least two different diameters with the larger diameter leading in the direction of travel of the piston. Upon a rise in temperature, expansion of the material surrounding the piston within the chamber creates a force on the piston in the desired direction of travel. Below a preselected temperature the piston is positively locked with a passive release when the preselected temperature is reached.

A pressure and thermostatic relief valve for a pump housing is disclosed. The relief valve includes both a pressure relief valve mechanism and a thermostatic or temperature relief valve mechanism. A pump housing incorporating the pressure and thermostatic relief valve is also disclosed.

An element with a cup containing a thermally expanding material, a piston capable of translational movement along its axis, a rigid guide for guiding the piston, a seal for sealing in the thermally expanding material having an annular overall shape, centered on the axis and through which the piston passes axially, and which includes first and second opposite axial parts against which the guide and cup press respectively in an antagonistic manner to compress the seal around the piston, and an anti-extrusion washer mounted coaxially around the piston and axially interposed between the guide and first part of the seal. The first part of the seal around the piston can be supercompressed to make the degree of compression equal to a value strictly higher than that associated with an operational thermostatic element formed by the cup, piston, guide, seal and anti-extrusion washer assembled with one another without the supercompression.

An energy cell that is provided with a pressure vessel with two chambers separated by a membrane, respectively a first chamber filled with a phase-change material and a second chamber filled with hydraulic fluid, whereby this energy cell is provided with means to be able to heat and cool the phase-change material alternately, coupled with a volume change, whereby the second chamber is provided with a passage that acts as an input and/or output for the hydraulic fluid, whereby the membrane is stretched elastically upon a phase change whereby the volume in the first chamber increases.

An expansion material element (1) for a thermostatic mixing valve (2), having an expansion material (3) comprising at least one additive (4) from the group below: synthetic graphite, highly conductive graphite having a thermal conductivity of at least 350W/(mK), boronnitride;
a thermostatic mixing valve (2) having such an expansion material element (1); and a sanitary faucet (8) having such a thermostatic mixing valve (2).

A thermal actuator is provided and includes an expansion material disposed and configured to move a movable element from a first movable element position toward a second movable element position in accordance with an expansion condition of the expansion material. The expansion material includes an inorganic salt mixture or a metal oxide mixture.