Actuator with a triggerable element of variable length made of a multifunctional element

US5891577A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deutsche Forschungsanstalt Fur Luft-Und Raumfahrt E.V. · DE

Inventors

• Elmar Breitbach · Oebisfelde, DE
• Thilo Bein · Darmstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 6, 1999
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/31504

Abstract

An actuator (1) having at least one triggerable element (4,5) of variable lengths made of a multifunctional material (6) for large regulating distances is disclosed. The multifunctional material is arranged in layers on a deformable platform carrier structure 93), the carrier structure and the multifunctional material being disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal center plane (7) of the actuator. The carrier structure includes at least a pair of arcuate sections formed on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the actuator, each such arcuate section describing an arc of at least 180.degree.. The triggerable elements of variable lengths may be actuated with heat supplied by a separate heat source, or by electricity provided from a separate source of electricity so that the triggerable elements either expand or contract, thus moving a stringer (26) formed as a part of the carrier for performing the desired actuation function.