Method for joining components with shape memory alloys
US7963022B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/7061
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of swaging a head gimbal assembly (HGA) to an actuator arm comprises positioning a tubular element on the HGA adjacent a hole in the actuator arm; restraining the subassembly; providing a rod formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA), the SMA having a martensitic phase at a low temperature and an austenitic phase above a phase transition temperature that is higher than the low temperature, the rod having an initial diameter that is smaller than diameters of the tubular element and the hole; extending the rod through the tubular element and hole; heating the rod above the phase transition temperature such that the rod expands to a second diameter that is greater than the initial diameter to plastically deform the HGA and swage together the HGA and actuator arm to form an assembly; cooling the rod and removing the rod from the assembly such that the rod returns to the initial diameter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.