SMA Valve for Controlling Pressurized Air Supply to an Air Cell in a Vehicle Seat

摘要

The present invention provides a SMA valve for controlling pressurized air supply to an air cell in a vehicle seat comprising: a valve housing, a valve element (4) which is moveably suspended in the housing to be moveable between a closed position and an open position, a spring element adapted to exert a bias force on the valve element urging it to the closed position, and a SMA wire (1) extending between a part fixed in the housing and the valve element and arranged such that shortening of the SMA wire upon exceeding its threshold temperature exerts a force on the valve element which pulls the valve element away from the closed position against the bias force of the spring element, characterized in that the valve element (4) is suspended by a connecting link (10, 10′) connected with one of its ends to the valve element (4) and with its opposite end to a stationary component (8) in the housing by a hinge (12, 12′) enabling pivotal movement of the connecting link (10, 10′) between a first and second position of the connecting link corresponding to the closed and open position of the valve element (4), respectively.

主权项

1. A SMA valve for controlling pressurized air supply to an air cell in a vehicle seat comprising:
a valve housing, a valve element which is moveably suspended in the housing to be moveable between a closed position in which the valve element is in sealing abutment with a valve seat which establishes a closed state of the valve, and an open position in which the valve element is moved away from the valve seat corresponding to an open state of the valve, a spring element adapted to exert a bias force on the valve element urging it to the closed position, and a SMA wire extending between a part fixed in the housing and the valve element and arranged such that shortening of the SMA wire upon exceeding a threshold temperature exerts a force on the valve element which pulls the valve element away from the closed position against the bias force of the spring element, wherein the valve element is suspended by a connecting link having ends with the connecting linking connected with one of the ends to the valve element and with the opposite end to a stationary component in the housing by a hinge enabling pivotal movement of the connecting link between a first position and a second position of the connecting link corresponding to the closed and open positions of the valve element, respectively.