Daniel W Watson

US Patent:

8209976, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Nov 25, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/323091

Inventors:

Rajan Vaidyanathan - Oviedo FL, US
Daniel W. Snyder - Melbourne FL, US
David K. Schoenwald - Douglasville GA, US
Nhin S. Lam - Orlando FL, US
Daniel S. Watson - Orlando FL, US
Vinu B. Krishnan - Hallandale FL, US
Ronald D. Noebe - Cleveland OH, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

F01B 29/10

US Classification:

60528, 60529

Abstract:

SM-based actuators () and release mechanisms () therefrom and systems () including one or more release mechanisms (). The actuators () comprise a SM member () and a deformable member () mechanically coupled to the SM member () which deforms upon a shape change of the SM member triggered by a phase transition of the SM member. A retaining element () is mechanically coupled to the deformable member (), wherein the retaining element () moves upon the shape change. Release mechanism () include an actuator, a rotatable mechanism () including at least one restraining feature () for restraining rotational movement of the retaining element () before the shape change, and at least one spring () that provides at least one locked spring-loaded position when the retaining element is in the restraining feature and at least one released position that is reached when the retaining element is in a position beyond the restraining feature (). The rotatable mechanism () includes at least one load-bearing protrusion (). A hitch () is for mechanically coupling to the load, wherein the hitch is supported on the load bearing protrusion () when the rotatable mechanism is in the locked spring-loaded position.