Sma actuated restraint assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018099749-A1
Application number	US-201615371403-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 7, 2016
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A restraint assembly includes a base member, a pawl, a lock member, and an actuator assembly. The base member has a first side plate spaced apart from a second side plate. The pawl is pivotally coupled to the first side plate and the second side plate by a first pin. The lock member is pivotally coupled to the first side plate and the second side plate by a second pin. The actuator assembly includes a first shape memory alloy actuator that is drivably connected to the pawl and a second shape memory alloy actuator that is drivably connected to the lock member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A restraint assembly, comprising:
a base member having a first side plate spaced apart from a second side plate, the first side plate and the second side plate extending from a floor of the base member; a pawl pivotally coupled to the first side plate and the second side plate by a first pin; a lock member, spaced apart from the pawl, the lock member pivotally coupled to the first side plate and the second side plate by a second pin; and an actuator assembly including:
a first shape memory alloy actuator drivably connected to the pawl, and
a second shape memory alloy actuator drivably connected to the lock member.

2 . The restraint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first shape memory alloy actuator includes a first shape memory alloy member having a first end operatively connected to the floor and a second end configured to selectively engage the pawl.

3 . The restraint assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first shape memory alloy member is movable between a first shape that corresponds to a retracted pawl position and a second shape that corresponds to an extended pawl position based on a polarity of the first shape memory alloy member.

4 . The restraint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second shape memory alloy actuator includes a base operatively connected to the floor, a second shape memory alloy member extending from the base and configured to selectively engage the lock member, and a third shape memory alloy member extending from the base and configured to selectively engage the lock member.

5 . The restraint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second shape memory alloy actuator is movable between a third shape that corresponds to a retracted lock member position and a fourth shape that corresponds to an extended lock member position based on a polarity of the second shape memory alloy actuator.

6 . A restraint assembly, comprising:
a base member having a floor, a first side plate extending from the floor, and a second side plate extending from the floor; a pawl having a pawl body, a first shoulder extending from the pawl body and pivotally connected to the first side plate, and a second shoulder extending from the pawl body and pivotally connected to the second side plate; a lock member pivotally connected to the first side plate and the second side plate; and an actuator assembly drivably connected to the pawl and the lock member, the actuator assembly being arranged to move each of the pawl and the lock member between a retracted position and an extended position.

7 . The restraint assembly of claim 6 , wherein the lock member has a lock member base, a first arm extending from the lock member base towards the pawl, and a second arm extending from the lock member base towards the pawl.

8 . The restraint assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first arm and the second arm engages the pawl, while the pawl and the lock member are in the extended position.

9 . The restraint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the actuator assembly includes:
a first shape memory alloy actuator including a first shape memory alloy member having a first shape memory alloy member first end operatively connected to the floor and a first shape memory alloy member second end configured to selectively engage the pawl body, and a second shape memory alloy actuator including:
a second shape memory alloy member having a second shape memory alloy member first end operatively connected to a base disposed on the floor and a second shape memory alloy second end that engages the first arm, and
a third shape memory alloy member having a third shape member alloy member first end operatively connected to the base disposed on the floor and a third shape memory alloy second end that engages the second arm.

10 . The restraint assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first shape memory alloy member extends at least partially through an opening defined between the first shoulder, the pawl body, and the second shoulder.

11 . The restraint assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first shape memory alloy member is movable between a first shape that corresponds to the retracted position of the pawl and a second shape that corresponds to the extended position of the pawl.

12 . The restraint assembly of claim 11 , wherein while the first shape memory alloy member is in the first shape, the first shape memory alloy member first end is disposed parallel to the first shape memory alloy member second end.

13 . The restraint assembly of claim 11 , wherein while the first shape memory alloy member is in the second shape, the first shape memory alloy member first end is disposed in a non-parallel relationship with the first shape memory alloy member second end.

14 . A restraint assembly, comprising:
a pawl having a pawl body, a first shoulder and a second shoulder extending from the pawl body and pivotally connected to a base member by a first pin; a lock member having a lock member base, a first arm and a second arm extending from the lock member base, the lock member being pivotally connected to the base member by a second pin; and an actuator assembly drivably connected to the pawl and the lock member, the actuator assembly being arranged to move each of the pawl and the lock member between a retracted position and an extended position.

15 . The restraint assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first arm defines a first slot.

16 . The restraint assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second arm defines a second slot.

17 . The restraint assembly of claim 16 , the actuator assembly includes:
a first shape memory alloy member having a first shape memory alloy member first end operatively connected to the base member and a first shape memory alloy member second end configured to selectively engage the pawl body; a second shape memory alloy member having a second shape memory alloy member first end operatively connected to the base member and a second shape memory alloy second end that engages the first arm; and a third shape memory alloy member having a third shape member alloy member first end operatively connected to the base member and a third shape memory alloy member second end that engages the second arm.

18 . The restraint assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first shape memory alloy member is disposed at least partially between the first shoulder and the second shoulder.

19 . The restraint assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second shape memory alloy second end is at least partially received within the first slot.

20 . The restraint assembly of claim 17 , wherein the third shape memory alloy member is at least partially received within the second slot.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Kuppan Skandan Berikai
• Reddy Chana Kesava
• Marappan Bharath

Classifications

• B64D9/003 Primary

  Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers · CPC title

• B60P7/0838

  Tensioning by single movement of an actuating member · CPC title

• F03G7/065

  using a shape memory element · CPC title