Active material enabled vents and methods of use
A vent includes a vane configured for spatial movement, and at least one actuator in operative communication with the vane configured to spatially move the vane in at least one direction, wherein the actuator comprises an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively change an orientation of the vane.
1. A vent, comprising:
a vane configured for spatial movement; and
at least one actuator in operative communication with the vane configured to spatially move the vane in at least one direction, wherein the actuator comprises an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively change an orientation of the vane,
wherein the at least one actuator comprises two antagonistically configured sets of sub-actuators each comprising an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively move each of the two antagonistically configured sets of sub-actuators in two directions, wherein the two antagonistically configured sets of sub-actuators each comprise two or more binary sub-actuators, wherein the two or more binary sub-actuators are in serial mechanical communication, and wherein the movement in the two directions of the antagonistically configured sets of sub-actuators is effective to move the two or more binary sub-actuators in series and selectively move the vane, so as to assume three or more angular positions.
2. The vent of claim 1 , wherein the change in the at least one property comprises a change in crystal structure, material morphology, a shape, a dimension, a phase, a shape orientation, a modulus, a stiffness, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing properties.
3. The vent of claim 1 , wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, an electric activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, a chemical activation signal, an optical activation signal, an electromagnetic activation signal, a vibratory activation signal, an acoustic activation signal, a mechanical load, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.
4. The vent of claim 1 , further comprising an activation device configured to provide the activation signal to the active material.
5. The vent of claim 4 , wherein the activation device is in operative communication with at least one sensor configured to activate the activation device upon detecting a predetermined threshold condition.
6. The vent of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is manually overridable.
7. The vent of claim 1 , further comprising a stroke adjuster in operative communication with the active material configured to prevent overloading and/or overstraining of the active material, and to provide adjustment of a stroke length of the active material.
8. The vent of claim 1 , further comprising a baffle plate in operative communication with the vane and the actuator.
9. A method for controlling a condition of airflow in a vehicle, comprising:
activating an active material in an actuator in operative communication with a vane configured for spatial movement, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively move the vane;
modifying a plurality of antagonistic sub-actuators, each comprising a plurality of binary sub-actuators connected in serial mechanical communication, as a result of the change, and
changing the orientation of the vane, so as to assume three or more angular positions, as a result of modifying the sub-actuators.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein changing the orientation of the vane is effective to change a direction, volume, spatial distribution pattern, temperature, velocity, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing of the airflow.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the change in the condition of the airflow is effective to indicate a specific vehicle condition to an occupant by a visual indication, an auditory indication, a haptic indication, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing indications.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling the orientation of the vane based on pre-specified automatic modes of operation in response to an input from at least one information source.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-specified automatic modes of operation comprise a defogging mode, a redirection of air to a specific region of the vehicle mode, a purge of a noxious vapor mode, a circulation mode after a transient condition, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing modes.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein changing the condition of the airflow comprises directing the airflow away from an occupant during a transient temperature period.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the active material comprises reaching a predetermined minimum air temperature and wherein changing the orientation of the vane comprises transitioning the vane from a closed position to an open position.