Actuator for a support system of a seat
Systems and methods described herein relate to improving an actuator for a support system of a seat. In one embodiment, an actuator includes a body that is bi-stable with a coiled state and an uncoiled state. The actuator also includes a strip, coupled to the body, that coils the body according to heat caused by a power source. The actuator also includes a wire coupled to a side of the body opposite from the strip and the wire uncoils the body in response to heating caused by the power source.
1. An actuator comprising:
a body that is bi-stable with a coiled state and an uncoiled state;
a strip, coupled to the body, that coils the body according to heat caused by a power source and the body supports a user by applying a force; and
a wire coupled to a back of the body opposite from the strip and the wire uncoils the body according to heat caused by the power source.
2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the wire contracts from the heating and the body is stable in the uncoiled state without further heating to the wire.
3. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the body applies the force when the strip coils the body, according to the power source, to engage a bolster of a seat.
4. The actuator of claim 3 , wherein the body reduces the force when the wire uncoils the body according to the power source.
5. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the body applies the force when the strip coils the body, according to the power source, to engage and change shape of a headrest for support in a seat.
6. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the body is a bi-stable strip and the wire extends from ends of the bi-stable strip.
7. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein a controller deactivates the power source to the strip and the body is stable in the coiled state.
8. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein any one of the wire and the strip is a metal alloy that changes to a shape and maintains the shape for memory.
9. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the strip is positioned at an end of the body.
10. An actuator comprising:
a bi-stable body with an active state and an inactive state;
a memory alloy (MA) component, coupled to the bi-stable body, springing the bi-stable body into the active state according to heat, wherein the bi-stable body supports a user by applying a force; and
a MA strip coupled to a back of the bi-stable body opposite from the MA component and the MA strip causes the bi-stable body to enter the inactive state according to heat.
11. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the MA strip contracts in response to the heating and the bi-stable body is stable in the inactive state without further heating.
12. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the bi-stable body applies the force from the springing to engage a bolster of a seat.
13. The actuator of claim 12 , wherein the bi-stable body reduces the force when the bi-stable body enters the inactive state.
14. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the bi-stable body applies the force from the springing to engage and change shape of a headrest for support in a seat.
15. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the MA strip extends from ends of the bi-stable body.
16. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein a controller deactivates the heating to the MA component and the bi-stable body is stable in the active state.
17. The actuator of claim 10 , wherein the MA component is positioned at an end of the bi-stable body.
18. An actuator system comprising:
bi-stable actuators;
memory alloy (MA) components, coupled to two or more of the bi-stable actuators, that separately spring the two or more bi-stable actuators into an active state according to heat, wherein the two or more bi-stable actuators support a user by applying force; and
MA strips, coupled to backs of the two or more bi-stable actuators, that separately cause the two or more bi-stable actuators to enter an inactive state according to heating, wherein a controller activates the heating to enter the inactive state.
19. The actuator system of claim 18 , wherein the two or more bi-stable actuators apply the force from springing into the active state that increases support in a bolster of a seat.
20. The actuator system of claim 18 , wherein the two or more bi-stable actuators apply the force from springing into the active state and changes shape of a headrest for support in a seat.