Active material enabled pressure release valves and methods of use

Abstract

A valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to a predetermined position. An actuator mechanically couples to the movable vane. The actuator is a wire device fabricated from shape memory alloy which, when activated, urges the movable vane toward the predetermined position. A power supply is configured to activate the actuator in response to an activation command and an indication that the movable vane is not in the predetermined position.

1 . A valve, comprising:
 a housing defining an opening providing fluid communication between a vehicle compartment and an external environment;   a movable vane pivotally connected to the housing and movable to a predetermined position;   an actuator mechanically coupled to said movable vane, said actuator comprising a wire device fabricated from shape memory alloy which when activated urges the movable vane toward said predetermined position; and   a power supply configured to activate said actuator in response to an activation command and an indication that said movable vane is not in said predetermined position.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined position comprises one of a partially-opened position, a fully-opened position, and a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said indication that said movable vane is not in said predetermined position is provided by one of a micro-switch, a photo-interrupter and a hall-effect sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of movable vanes, each pivotally connected to the housing and movable to respective predetermined positions; and 
 a plurality of actuators, each mechanically coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of movable vanes, each of said plurality of actuators comprising a respective wire device fabricated from shape memory alloy which when activated urges the corresponding movable vane toward said respective predetermined position. 
 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of movable vanes, each pivotally connected to the housing and movable to respective predetermined positions; 
 said actuator mechanically coupled to each of said plurality of movable vanes which when activated urges each of said plurality of movable vanes toward said respective predetermined position. 
 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the movable vane comprises a medial pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . A valve, comprising:
 a movable vane;   an actuator mechanically coupled to said vane, said actuator comprising a wire device fabricated from shape memory alloy which when activated urges the vane toward a predetermined position;   vane position sensing means providing a position signal indicative of vane position; and   a power supply configured to activate and deactivate said actuator in response to an activation command and said position signal.   
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 7 , wherein said power supply activates said actuator when said activation command is active and said position signal indicates the vane is not in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 7 , wherein said power supply deactivates said actuator when said position signal indicates the vane is in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 8 , wherein said power supply deactivates said actuator when said activation command is active and said position signal indicates the vane is in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         11 . Method for maintaining a vane in a predetermined position, said vane mechanically coupled to a wire device comprising a shape memory alloy which when activated urges the vane toward said predetermined position, said method comprising;
 monitoring an activation command;   monitoring vane position;   activating said wire device when vane position is not said predetermined position and said activation command is active.