SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

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.

An actuator for a vehicle seat can be configured to prevent overstress of a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. The actuator can include a first body member and a second body member pivotably connected to each other. The actuator can include an overstress post and an overstress contact plate operatively connected to the overstress post. Thus, movement of the overstress post causes movement of the overstress contact plate. The actuator can include an overstress contact pin. The actuator can include an SMA wire operatively connected to one of the body members and to the overstress post. When activated, the SMA wire can shrink, causing one of the body members to pivot relative to the other body member and causing the overstress contact plate to move toward the overstress contact pin. If the overstress contact plate contacts the overstress contact pin, the SMA wire can be deactivated.

A thermobimetal heat driven turbine having a rotor, and a series of vanes extending from the rotor wherein the vanes comprise two or more separate materials laminated together, said two separate materials having different coefficients of expansion whereby exposure to a heat source causes the two separate materials to expand at different rates thereby re-shaping the vanes to drive the rotor. The rotating turbine is thus able to generate power using direct heat from an energy source. The heat source may be radiant, convection and/or conduction type heat.

A capillary action propulsion system includes an absorbent material, at least one compression member, and a fluid. The absorbent material forms an endless path. At least one compression member compresses a portion of the absorbent material at a compression location. A fluid is disposed within the absorbent material in an unequal distribution with a first side of the absorbent material having more fluid than a second side. The absorbent material is configured to continuously rotate due to the at least one compression member compressing the portion of the absorbent material at the compression location causing the fluid to continuously remain unequally distributed within the absorbent material creating a weight imbalance in the absorbent material and a resulting moment. The fluid is configured to continuously rise, due to capillary action, within the absorbent material along the endless path from the compression location on the first side of the absorbent material.

An actuator for a vehicle seat can be configured to prevent overstress of a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. The actuator can include a first body member and a second body member pivotably connected to each other. The actuator can include an overstress post and an overstress contact plate operatively connected to the overstress post. Thus, movement of the overstress post causes movement of the overstress contact plate. The actuator can include an overstress contact pin. The actuator can include an SMA wire operatively connected to one of the body members and to the overstress post. When activated, the SMA wire can shrink, causing one of the body members to pivot relative to the other body member and causing the overstress contact plate to move toward the overstress contact pin. If the overstress contact plate contacts the overstress contact pin, the SMA wire can be deactivated.

In an example, an engine includes a thermal expansion unit comprising expansion material that expands in response to a temperature increase of the expansion material and contracts in response to a temperature decrease of the expansion material. The engine includes a structure comprising a heat receiving region, wherein at least a portion of the thermal expansion unit is disposed within the structure. The heat receiving region is configured to transfer thermal energy from a source of thermal energy to the expansion material through a first thermal energy transference path. The transfer of thermal energy to the thermal expansion unit causes expansion of the expansion material within the thermal expansion unit. The expansion of the expansion material causes an increase in length of the thermal expansion unit. The increase in length of the thermal expansion unit causes establishment of a second thermal energy transference path through which thermal energy is transferred from the expansion material to outside the thermal expansion unit.

The present disclosure relates to a terminal device and a method for controlling an image acquirer. The terminal device includes: a shell; an image acquirer positioned in the shell; and a driver positioned in the shell and connected with the image acquirer. The driver includes a memory metal, and the memory metal has different lengths in an energized state and a deenergized state, and is configured to control the image acquirer to get into and out of the shell by length extension and contraction.

Methods and a device for the continuous manufacturing of artificial muscle actuator device fibers are disclosed. The method includes: threading an untwisted fiber along the axis of a tube and inside the tube that includes a heating means to raise the localized temperature of a cross-section of the tube to a predetermined temperature; providing a tension on the untwisted fiber; and twisting the untwisted fiber while the fiber is within the tube.

The present disclosure relates to a terminal device and a method for controlling an image acquirer. The terminal device includes: a shell; an image acquirer positioned in the shell; and a driver positioned in the shell and connected with the image acquirer. The driver includes a memory metal, and the memory metal has different lengths in an energized state and a deenergized state, and is configured to control the image acquirer to get into and out of the shell by length extension and contraction.