Active material actuation utilizing bi-stable mechanical overload protection

1. An actuation assembly adapted for driving a load and preventing or mitigating an overload condition, the assembly comprising:

an actuator defining a stroke and presenting a design threshold force; and

an overload protection device including at least one elastic member defining a force-deflection characteristic having a limit point and negative stiffness region therein;

wherein the member is drivenly coupled to the actuator opposite the load, and presents an initial deformation force not greater than the design threshold force, so as to define a non-linear force versus displacement relationship over the stroke when the actuator experiences an overload condition.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one elastic member is a bi-stable member presenting a force-deflection characteristic having dual limit points and positive stiffness regions, and a negative stiffness region intermediate the positive stiffness regions.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one member includes an elongated beam caused to bow away from, coupled to, and transversely driven by the actuator.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the at least one member is mechanically caused to store strain energy.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the at least one member presents first and second ends and defines a longitudinal length, and the device further includes first and second supports fixedly connected to the ends and defining a spacing less than the length, so as to deform the member and store strain energy therein.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein at least one of the supports are adjustable, so as to modify the spacing.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the at least one member defines a longitudinal midpoint, and the device further includes a set screw operable to encroachingly engage the midpoint, so as to further cause the member to store strain energy and achieve a ready set condition.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the actuator and device are cooperatively configured such that the at least one member is caused to pass the limit point when the load is greater than the design force threshold.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the device includes a plurality of elastic members, and further comprises a rigid coupler fixedly coupling the members, and the actuator is connected to the coupler, so as to drivenly engage the plurality of members as a unit.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein a first of the members presents a linear spring force-deflection characteristic, and a second of the members presents a force-deflection characteristic having a limit point and negative stiffness region therein, such that the first and second members cooperatively present an effective spring rate over a displacement interval.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the effective spring rate is negative over the interval.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the effective spring rate is positive over the interval.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the effective spring rate is nominally zero, so as to yield a constant force over the interval.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator is an active material actuator.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein the active material actuator is formed of thermally activated shape memory alloy.