METHOD FOR FORMING COILED SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY, COILED SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY, ACTUATOR, POWER-ASSISTED DEVICE, POWER-ASSISTED DEVICE FOR ELBOW, AND LINK ACTUATOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a coiled shape-memory alloy to suit for a power-assisted device.;SOLUTION: The coiled shape-memory alloy 3 is a shape-memory alloy wire which has been formed into a coiled shape with a predetermined diameter so that the wire memorizes the coiled shape by heat treatment, and is formed so that the predetermined diameter gradually becomes small, by being subjected to a plurality of steps of making the wire memorize the shape of the coil by heat treatment. An actuator 1 enables the coiled shape-memory alloy 3 to be extended or shrunk by: fitting both ends of the coiled shape-memory alloy 3 into each internal circumference of a pair of hollow end connection implements 5 and 7; fixing retention pins 10 which penetrate to each end 3b of the coiled shape-memory alloy 3 in a diametric direction, onto the end connection implements 5 and 7; closely fitting each end of an elastic heat-resistant tube 9 having been externally mounted on the coiled shape-memory alloy 3 onto outer circumferences of each end 5b and 7b of the end connection implements 5 and 7; and supplying cold water and hot water from the end connection implements 5 and 7 to make them flow in the tube 9. Thus obtained actuator 1 can be operated by selectively supplying the hot water and cold water, does not necessarily need a battery, and can be lightweight and small.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT