Thermally active mechanically blooming artificial flower

Abstract

The Thermally Active Mechanically Blooming Artificial Flower is an amusement device designed to open autonomously with exposure to sunlight and to close when cooled to ambient temperature. This device includes a novel application of Zylon cable and steel or plastic springs, in a thermomechanical actuator capable of producing torque and angular displacement with changes in temperature. The invention has a series of mechanical systems which translate the motion of the thermomechanical actuator into the opening and closing motion of a pattern of artificial flower petals.

1 . Torque and Angular Displacement Producing Temperature Dependent Thermomechanical Actuator, comprised of
 a length of stiff elastic material, either steel or thermoset plastic, formed or bent into a planar spiral as a spring   a length of Zylon cable, which wraps longitudinally on the outer facing surface of the spring   an axle which attaches to the spring and cable   and an adjustment mechanism capable of inducing longitudinal tension in the Zylon cable
 and longitudinal compression in the spring by displacing the outer ends of the cable 
 and spring relative to each other. 
   
   
   
       2 . Thermally Active Mechanically Blooming Artificial Flower, comprised of
 an enclosure and system of physical supports   a torque and angular displacement producing temperature dependent thermomechanical actuator   an angular motion to linear motion transducer   and a flower petal linkage which converts linear motion into movement of externally supported artificial flower petals