US 11,815,073 B2
Shape memory alloy actuation apparatus
Stephen Matthew Bunting, Cambridge (GB); Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, Cambridge (GB); Marc-Sebastian Scholz, Cambridge (GB); and James Howarth, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
Filed by CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/890,700.
Application 17/890,700 is a continuation of application No. 16/960,410, granted, now 11,454,221, previously published as PCT/GB2019/050160, filed on Jan. 22, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1801007 (GB), filed on Jan. 22, 2018; application No. 1810204 (GB), filed on Jun. 21, 2018; and application No. 1811621 (GB), filed on Jul. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0403831 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 27/64 (2006.01); F03G 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 7/065 (2013.01) [F03G 7/0614 (2021.08)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shape memory alloy actuation apparatus comprising:
a support structure;
a movable element supported on the support structure by a suspension system arranged to guide movement of the movable element along a movement direction with respect to the support structure, wherein the suspension system comprises a bearing arrangement configured to constrain movement of the movable element in degrees of freedom other than along the movement direction; and
two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire each connected by a crimp portion to the movable element and connected by a crimp portion to the support structure for driving movement of the movable element relative to the support structure, the two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire being inclined at an acute angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to a plane normal to the movement direction,
wherein the two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire are inclined such that one of the two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire drives movement of the movable element relative to the support structure in a first direction, and the other of the two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire drives movement of the movable element relative to the support structure in a second direction, where the second direction is opposite to the first direction.