Shape memory alloy actuated butterfly valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100944-B2
Application number	US-201514816345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2015
Priority date	Aug 3, 2015
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems for a butterfly valve including a shape memory alloy (SMA) tube trained for rotation are presently disclosed. The SMA tube has a ground end coupled to a housing and rotating end coupled to a plate. The SMA tube is configured to rotate in a first direction in response to a first temperature change of the SMA tube. When rotating in the first direction, the rotating end of the SMA tube rotates and deflects the plate to rotate in a direction that permits a medium to flow through the valve. The SMA tube is also configured to rotate in a second direction in response to a second temperature change of the SMA tube. When rotating in the second direction, the rotating end of the SMA tube rotates and deflects the plate to rotate in a direction that does not permits a medium to flow through the valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a butterfly valve comprising:
circulating a medium around a shape memory alloy (SMA) tube by a fan;
operating a butterfly valve in one of at least two modes, wherein:
a first mode that permits the medium to flow through the valve, and
a second mode that inhibits the medium from flowing through the valve;

switching from the first mode to the second mode based on:
changing a temperature of the SMA tube in a first direction, wherein the SMA tube is trained for rotation, and the SMA tube is coupled to a housing at a ground end and to a plate at a rotating end, wherein the medium and the SMA tube are in contact, and
rotating the butterfly valve via the SMA tube based on the temperature change in the first direction; and

switching from the second mode to the first mode based on:
changing a temperature of the SMA tube in a second direction, and
rotating the butterfly valve via the SMA tube based on the temperature change in the second direction;
and

manually switching from the first mode to the second mode based on a rotation of a manual operation knob coupled to the plate,
wherein the rotating is about a common axis defined by the butterfly valve, SMA tube, manual operation knob, and fan.

2. The method claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rotations of the butterfly valve is assisted by a spring coupled between the rotating end of the SMA tube and the housing.

3. The method claim 1 , further comprising a temperature-adjustment component coupled to the SMA tube configured to change the temperature of the SMA tube.

4. The method claim 3 , wherein the temperature-adjustment component comprises a resistive wire.

5. The method claim 1 , wherein the medium provides the temperature change.

6. The method claim 1 , wherein the SMA has an opening activation temperature.

7. The method claim 1 , wherein the SMA has a closing activation temperature.

8. A butterfly valve comprising:
a shape memory alloy (SMA) tube trained for rotation having a ground end and rotating end, wherein a medium and the SMA tube are in contact;
a housing, wherein the ground end of the SMA tube is coupled to the housing;
a fan configured to circulate the medium around the SMA tube;
a plate coupled to the rotating end of the SMA tube, wherein the SMA tube is configured to:
rotate in a first direction in response to a first temperature change of the SMA tube, wherein the rotating end of the SMA tube rotates and deflects the plate to rotate in a direction that permits the medium to flow through the valve, and
rotate in a second direction in response to a second temperature change of the SMA tube, wherein the rotating end of the SMA tube rotates and deflects the plate to rotate in a direction that does not permit the medium to flow through the valve, and wherein the first temperature change and the second temperature change are changes in opposite directions; and

a manual operation knob coupled to the plate, wherein the manual operation knob is configured to cause a deflection in the plate,
wherein the butterfly valve, SMA tube, manual operation knob, and fan are mounted on a common axis.

9. The butterfly valve of claim 8 , further comprising a spring coupled between the rotating end of the SMA tube and the housing.

10. The butterfly valve of claim 8 , further comprising a temperature-adjustment component coupled to the SMA tube.

11. The butterfly valve of claim 10 , wherein the temperature-adjustment component comprises a resistive wire.

12. The butterfly valve of claim 8 , wherein the medium provides the temperature increase and temperature decrease.

13. The butterfly valve of claim 8 , wherein the SMA has an opening activation temperature.

14. The butterfly valve of claim 8 , wherein the SMA has a closing activation temperature.

15. A butterfly valve configured to selectively control the flow of a medium comprising:
a rotatable plate configured to have a first position and a second position, wherein the first position permits a medium to flow through the valve and the second position does not permit a medium to flow through the valve;
a shape memory alloy (SMA) tube trained for rotation having a ground end and rotating end, wherein the ground end of the SMA tube is coupled to a valve housing and the rotating end is coupled to the rotatable plate, wherein the medium and the SMA tube are in contact;
a fan configured to circulate the medium around the SMA tube;
a manual operation knob coupled to the rotatable plate, wherein the manual operation knob is configured to cause a deflection in the rotatable plate; and
wherein the SMA tube is configured to:
rotate in a first direction in response to a first temperature change of the SMA tube, and
rotate in a second direction in response to a second temperature change of the SMA tube, and wherein the first temperature change and the second temperature change are changes in opposite directions,
wherein the butterfly valve, SMA tube, manual operation knob, and fan are mounted on a common axis.

16. The butterfly valve of claim 15 , further comprising a spring coupled between the rotating end of the SMA tube and the housing.

17. The butterfly valve of claim 15 , further comprising a temperature-adjustment component coupled to the SMA tube, wherein the temperature-adjustment component comprises a resistive wire.

18. The butterfly valve of claim 15 , wherein the medium and the SMA tube are in contact and the medium provides the temperature change.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Calkins Frederick T
• Patel Pruthvish V
• Rathke David A

Classifications

• F16K31/025

  actuated by thermo-electric means · CPC title

• F16K31/002 Primary

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title

• G05D23/025

  the sensing element being placed within a regulating fluid flow · CPC title

• F16K1/221

  specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00) · CPC title