CPC F01D 17/141 (2013.01) [F05D 2260/207 (2013.01); F05D 2260/60 (2013.01); F05D 2300/505 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. An orifice assembly, comprising:
an inner member defining an orifice having a first dimension in a compressed state;
an outer member arranged adjacent to and radially exterior of the inner member; and
a thermally-sensitive material arranged adjacent to and radially exterior of the outer member,
wherein the thermally-sensitive material has a rigid, first state that applies force to the inner member so as to maintain the first dimension of the orifice in the compressed state and a flexible, second state configured to release the force applied to the inner member,
wherein, when subjected to temperatures above a predetermined temperature threshold, the thermally-sensitive material changes from the rigid, first state to the flexible, second state to allow the first dimension of the inner member in the compressed state to passively expand to a decompressed, second dimension, the second dimension being larger than the first dimension.
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