Solid-State Motor Using Shape-Memory Alloy Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motors used in aircraft and other complex systems are heavy, complex, and unreliable, limiting their efficiency and precision in applications requiring rapid and precise adjustments, such as aircraft control systems.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state motor utilizing a shape-memory alloy belt and a thermal regulation device that concurrently cools one portion of the belt to contract it and heats another portion to expand it, causing rotation, with the thermal regulation device powered by an electrical signal and adjustable to control rotational direction and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional motors are used in aircraft control systems, then they provide sufficient power and torque, but they are heavy, complex, and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electromagnetic motor components with a shape-memory alloy belt system actuated by thermal regulation. The SMA belt substitutes traditional mechanical drive trains, motors, and linkages with a thermally-actuated smart material system that directly produces motion through phase transformation, eliminating complex mechanical assemblies and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters from electrical/electromagnetic actuation to thermal actuation. By controlling temperature parameters through the thermal regulation device, the shape-memory alloy belt transforms between martensite and austenite phases to produce controlled motion, replacing conventional electrical motor operation with thermal field control.
2Weight of moving object
If conventional motors are used in aircraft control systems, then they provide sufficient power and torque, but they are heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electromagnetic motor components with a shape-memory alloy belt system actuated by thermal regulation. The SMA belt substitutes traditional mechanical drive trains, motors, and linkages with a thermally-actuated smart material system that directly produces motion through phase transformation, eliminating complex mechanical assemblies and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs shape-memory alloy materials with unique thermomechanical properties that combine structural and functional characteristics. The SMA belt material exhibits both structural integrity and shape-transforming capability, allowing a single component to replace multiple conventional motor components, thereby reducing weight while maintaining reliability.
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 motor is lightweight, reliable, and provides rapid and precise control of adjustable components, overcoming the limitations of conventional motors by enabling efficient and precise adjustments in aircraft systems.
Implementation Method 1
Shape-memory alloys are special metallic materials that are capable of returning to a previously defined shape (e.g., original shape) after being heated to deformation (e.g., a deformed state). The transformation from the martensite low temperature phase to the austenite high temperature phase is completed upon reaching a second austenite threshold temperature
Implementation Method 2
a shape-memory alloy is in a martensite low temperature phase with a cubic crystal structure, which begins to transform into an austenite high temperature phase with a monoclinic crystal upon reaching a first austenite threshold temperature
Implementation Method 3
heat the second portion of the belt to expand the second portion of the belt
Implementation Method 4
cool the first portion of the belt to contract the first portion of the belt
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Described herein is a motor (100) comprising a first rotatable member (110) and an anchor (120), spaced apart from the first rotatable member (110). The motor (100) also comprises a belt (130), in tension about the first rotatable member (110) and the anchor (120). The belt (130) is co-rotatably engaged with the first rotatable member (110). Further, the belt (130) is made from a shape-memory alloy. Additionally, the motor (100) comprises a thermal regulation device (140), positioned between spaced-apart first and second portions (134, 136) of the belt (130). The thermal regulation device (140) is also configured to concurrently cool the first portion (134) of the belt (130) to contract the first portion (134) of the belt (130) and heat the second portion (136) of the belt (130) to expand the second portion (136) of the belt (130). Concurrent contraction and expansion of the first and second portions (134, 136) of the belt (130) cause rotation of the belt (130).