SINGLE INPUT AND MULTI-OUTPUT DRIVE SYSTEM UTILIZING AN ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATED TRANSMISSION

1 . A single input, multi-output drive system, comprising:

an input power source; and

a transmission including

a plurality of output elements shiftable between engaged and disengaged conditions relative to the source, so as to be selectively driven thereby; and

a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is drivenly and individually coupled to an associated one of the elements, and employs an active material operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, so as to be activated and deactivated respectively,

said source and transmission being cooperatively configured such that each change causes an associated one of the elements to shift between the conditions.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the source is a PMDC motor.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transmission includes a plurality of gears.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the transmission includes a plurality of output gears selectively coupled to the output elements and drivenly coupled to an input gear.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the input gear is a worm gear comprising multiple worm sections.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the elements further include a plurality of clutches, each of said clutches is selectively operable to selectively engage and disengage an associated one of the gears, and each actuator is configured to cause each of said clutches to engage the associated one of the gears when the actuator is activated.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the elements further include a biasing member drivenly coupled to each of said clutches antagonistic to the actuator, and operable to cause each of said clutches to disengage the associated one of the gears when the actuator is deactivated.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the source includes an input gear fixedly coupled to the source, and the transmission includes an output gear, and first and second idler gears drivenly coupled to the output gear and selectively engagable with opposite halves of the input gear respectively, and the elements are each selectively engaged with the output gear.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the output and idler gears are securely connected to a drive plate, and the transmission further includes idler engaging actuators operable to cause the plate to rotate in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, respectively, so as to selectively and alternately engage the idler and input gears.

10 . The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the idler engaging actuators include first and second wires drivenly coupled to opposite halves of the plate.

11 . The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein each actuator includes a locker-type of clutch intermediately coupled to the material and the associated one of the elements, and operable to selectively inter-engage the input source and the associated one of the elements.

12 . The actuator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the output elements each include an output shaft defining a primary shaft profile, and each clutch includes a cutting member defining a clutch profile and a pin member, wherein the profiles enable the cutting and pin members to engage the shaft, when the material is activated.

13 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each actuator includes a strain relief mechanism to which the active material is connected and operable to drive only where exceeding a predetermined load.

14 . The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein each actuator includes a pivotal fork component drivenly coupled to an associated element, and driven by the material.

15 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the fork is drivenly coupled to a clutch communicatively coupled to the associated one of the output elements, and oppositely to a strain relief mechanism.

16 . The actuator assembly of claim 1 , further including with respect to each actuator a photo interrupter operable to limit movement of the actuator.

17 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the active material is selected form a group of materials consisting essentially of a shape memory alloy, an electroactive polymer, a piezoelectric material, a magnetostrictive material, and an electrostrictive material.

18 . A power seat adapted for use by a user, comprising:

a plurality of manipulable structural components;

a single input, multi-output drive system, including

an input power source; and

at least one transmission including

a plurality of output elements, each individually shiftable between engaged and disengaged conditions relative to the source, so as to be selectively driven thereby, and drivenly coupled to a structural component, so as to cause said component to manipulate when driven by the source; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy actuators, wherein each actuator is drivenly and individually coupled to an associated one of the elements, and operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, so as to be activated and deactivated respectively,

said source and transmission being cooperatively configured such that each change causes an associated one of the elements to shift between the conditions.

19 . The seat as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the components include a cushion, backrest, and lumbar support, and the output elements are configured to cause cushion fore/aft movement, cushion up/down movement, cushion tilt movement, backrest incline/recline movement, and lumbar support adjustment.

20 . The seat as claimed in claim 18 , wherein each output element includes a flexible shaft extending to an associated component.