US 12,281,644 B2
Shape-memory material actuators
Shardul S. Panwar, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Michael P. Rowe, Pinckney, MI (US); Maduran Palaniswamy, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Ryohei Tsuruta, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/498,595.
Application 18/498,595 is a continuation of application No. 18/163,621, filed on Feb. 2, 2023, granted, now 11,841,008.
Application 18/163,621 is a continuation of application No. 17/747,638, filed on May 18, 2022, granted, now 11,592,010, issued on Feb. 28, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0060480 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F03G 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 7/06143 (2021.08) [F03G 7/062 (2021.08)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuator comprising:
a shell;
a structure within the shell; and
a shape-memory material wire extending in a first direction across a width of the structure,
wherein a height of the structure extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction increases and a height of the shell extending in the second direction increases when the shape-memory wire is heated.