An SMA haptic assembly comprises relatively movable first and second parts and a length of SMA wire, the ends of which are connected to the first part or second part, wherein the first and second parts comprise at least one contact portion making contact with the length of SMA wire on opposite sides of the length of SMA wire and relatively positioned so as to guide the length of SMA wire along a tortuous path such that the first and second parts are driven in opposite directions along a movement axis on contraction of the length of SMA wire. The at least one contact portion of one or both of the first and second parts is formed from sheet material that is shaped to guide the path of the SMA wire in contact therewith, thereby reducing the overall thickness and simplifying manufacture.

A shape memory alloy apparatus (1) comprising: a member (3) comprising a first end portion (5) and a second end portion (7); and a shape memory alloy component (9) connected to the member (3). The shape memory alloy component (9) being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion (5) and the second end portion (7) of the member (3), the member (3) being configured to be in tension during contraction of the shape memory alloy component (9), wherein the said separation changes in a direction that is angled to the direction of contraction.

A rotor for an electric motor includes a rotor core defining a first face, a second face, and an opening extending from the first face to the second face. The rotor also includes an output shaft received by the opening of the rotor core and a valve disposed within a passageway of the output shaft. The valve controls a flowrate of the coolant and is actuated into a fully opened position at a maximum operating temperature of the rotor. The valve includes a stem having a first end portion and a second end portion, a plug disposed at the first end portion of the stem, a valve seat disposed opposite to the plug, and a shape memory alloy actuator that expands to urge the stem of the valve and the plug away from the valve seat and into the fully opened position at the maximum operating temperature.

A method for using a shape memory alloy (SMA) with a non-evaporable getter (NEG) employed in a vacuum device is disclosed. The method comprises coupling a NEG component to a SMA component to form an NEG/SMA assembly pair; heating the NEG/SMA assembly pair to activate the NEG component; and packaging the activated NEG component with the SMA component to form an NEG/SMA package having a gas tight seal. The method further comprises installing the NEG/SMA package in the vacuum device; and heating the installed NEG/SMA package such that the SMA component is actuated to expose the activated NEG component to a vacuum chamber in the vacuum device.

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an actuator subassembly comprising a shape memory alloy wire (15), a biasing spring (16) and magnetic responsive elements (17, 17′) to couple the movement of a first movable element (13) and a second movable element (14) provided with a terminal (18), and in a second aspect to a fluidic valve comprising a plunger whose terminal part controls its opening and closing and where the plunger movement is controlled by the action of a shape memory alloy wire, a biasing element and magnetic responsive elements.

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an actuator subassembly comprising a shape memory alloy wire (15), a biasing spring (16) and magnetic responsive elements (17, 17′) to couple the movement of a first movable element (13) and a second movable element (14) provided with a terminal (18), and in a second aspect to a fluidic valve comprising a plunger whose terminal part controls its opening and closing and where the plunger movement is controlled by the action of a shape memory alloy wire, a biasing element and magnetic responsive elements.

The present application relates to a stepwise discrete actuator (10) with two shape memory alloy wires (15, 15′) used in an antagonistic configuration to drive a slider (13) that moves a toothed element (12) through tooth-engaging fingers (131, 132) that are spaced at rest by a distance F that is shorter than the distance T between adjacent teeth by an amount sufficient for a stationary finger lifter (14) to lift that of the slider fingers (131, 132) that does not engage the movable toothed element (12) such that it clears the teeth of the latter.

Devices and methods for controlling collection of liquid sample are described. In an example, a microfluidic device can include an analytical device and an actuator. The actuator can be connected to the analytical device. The actuator can be operable to absorb fluid. The actuator can guide the absorbed fluid to an input layer of the analytical device. The actuator can deform in response to an occurrence of an absorption condition. A degree of deformation of the actuator indicates a volume of fluid collected by the analytical device.

Devices and methods for controlling collection of liquid sample are described. In an example, a microfluidic device can include an analytical device and an actuator. The actuator can be connected to the analytical device. The actuator can be operable to absorb fluid. The actuator can guide the absorbed fluid to an input layer of the analytical device. The actuator can deform in response to an occurrence of an absorption condition. A degree of deformation of the actuator indicates a volume of fluid collected by the analytical device.

A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate. A first alignment aid is positioned between the first plate and the first electrode, the first alignment aid having an inner surface facing the first plate and an outer surface facing the first electrode.