Memory Alloy Wire Separation Mechanism for Low-Impact Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pyrotechnic connection and separation devices in aerospace applications face issues of poor safety, large load impact, inability to perform repeated operations, and environmental concerns such as gas pollution, necessitating a more reliable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly solution.
Innovation Solution
A connection and separation device driven by memory alloy wires, featuring an active end with a housing, guide wheels, memory alloy wires, and a passive end with a screw rod, utilizing a mechanism where memory alloy wires are shortened to release the lock pin, allowing the limiting sleeves to rotate and separate, ensuring low impact, energy efficiency, and reusability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If pyrotechnic devices are used for connection and separation, then separation speed is fast, but safety is poor and load impact is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pyrotechnic (chemical) system with a memory alloy wire-driven mechanical system. The memory alloy wires undergo phase transformation under electrical stimulation to drive the lock pin and limiting sleeves, eliminating explosives and improving safety while maintaining rapid separation through controlled phase change actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transformation parameters of memory alloy materials. By changing temperature or electrical stimulus parameters, the memory alloy wires transform between martensite and austenite phases, producing large deformation to drive the separation mechanism rapidly without the harmful effects of pyrotechnics.
2Speed
If pyrotechnic devices are used for connection and separation, then separation is achieved quickly, but environmental pollution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the chemical pyrotechnic system with an electro-mechanical memory alloy system. This eliminates combustion processes and gas generation, achieving rapid separation through solid-state phase transformation of memory alloy wires that can be electrically actuated without producing pollutants.
3Productivity
If traditional pyrotechnic devices are used, then separation is achieved, but repeated operations are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic phase transformation of memory alloy wires that can be repeatedly cycled between martensite and austenite phases through electrical stimulation. This enables the separation device to perform multiple connection and separation operations, with the locking and releasing mechanisms designed to accommodate repeated actuation cycles without degradation.
4Force
If pyrotechnic devices are used, then separation force is sufficient, but device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits the large strain capability of memory alloy materials during phase transformation. The memory alloy wires can undergo up to 10% or more deformation, generating sufficient separation force in a compact configuration, thereby achieving high force output in a small device volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves reliable separation with reduced trigger force, high reusability, and environmental protection by utilizing memory alloy wires for driving the separation mechanism, providing a compact and efficient solution with improved safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the memory alloy wires are shortened when being electrified
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a connection and separation device driven by memory alloy wires, including an active end and a passive end. The active end includes a housing, an outer sleeve, fixed sheets, compression springs, a rotating sleeve, a base, memory alloy wires, guide wheels, a lock pin, a limiting sleeve I and a limiting sleeve II. The passive end includes a screw rod, a loading nut, a separation element and an adaptor. The upper end of the screw rod is provided with a threaded section matched with the loading nut, and the lower end of the screw rod is provided with multi-layer oblique protrusions. The multi-layer oblique protrusions extend into the upper part of an accommodating space formed by the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II. The memory alloy wires are shortened when being electrified, the base and the lock pin move up, the lock pin releases the limit on the lower ends of the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II, the two limiting sleeves rotate at the same time, the lower parts of the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II are folded, and the upper parts of the limiting sleeve I and the limiting sleeve II are opened and separated from the screw rod, so as to realize the separation of the active end and the passive end. The disclosure realizes quick separation and has the advantages of no impact, energy saving and environmental protection, small size, high reliability and reusability.