Thermally-activated material assembly for actuator assembly in e.g. exhaust system of engine in automobile, has sheath surrounding portion of phase-change material element to contain element when element is in specific state

摘要

The assembly (100) has a phase-change material (PCM) element (104) transitioning from a state to another state when heated to or above a phase-change temperature. A drive mechanism causes the PCM element to directly engage and disengage from a shape-memory alloy actuator element (102) when an actuator assembly is in a non-actuated condition and an actuated condition, respectively. A PCM sheath (106) surrounds a portion of the PCM element to contain the PCM element when the PCM element is in the latter state. The PCM element has a non-PCM forming a PCM thermal composite with the PCM element. The phase change material element is made of shape-memory alloy or shape-memory polymer.