Thermal auto-change air diffuser

Abstract

An actuator for a diffuser in a fluid distribution system is disclosed in which the actuator includes a shape memory alloy wire. The shape memory alloy wire cooperates with at least one diffuser blade to automatically change the flow pattern from the diffuser based on the temperature of the fluid provided to the diffuser. Also disclosed is a diffuser and a fluid distribution system including this actuator.

1 . An actuator for use in a fluid distribution system for the distribution of fluid in at least one selected pattern, the actuator comprising: 
 a. an engagement mechanism to engage at least one blade of the fluid distribution system to position or reposition the blade; and    b. a shape memory alloy wire connected to the engagement mechanism and capable of causing the engagement mechanism to change position,    wherein the shape memory alloy wire is capable of expanding or contracting based on the temperature of the fluid in the distribution system, such that when the shape memory alloy wire contracts, the engagement mechanism is moved to a first position and when the shape memory alloy wire expands, the engagement mechanism is moved to a second position.    
   
   
       2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising a bias apparatus in cooperation with the engagement mechanism to cause the engagement mechanism to return to the second position when the shape memory wire expands.  
   
   
       3 . The actuator of  claim 2 , wherein the bias apparatus comprises a spring in cooperation with the engagement mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the blade of the fluid distribution system is a straight blade.  
   
   
       5 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the blade of the fluid distribution system is a curved blade.  
   
   
       6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire expands when the temperature of the fluid in the distribution system decreases below a first selected temperature.  
   
   
       7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire contracts when the temperature of the fluid in the distribution system increases above a second selected temperature.  
   
   
       8 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire comprises nitinol, copper/zinc/aluminum, copper/aluminum/nickel, silver/cadmium, gold/cadmium, copper/tin, copper/zinc, indium/titanium, nickel/aluminum, iron/platinum, manganese/copper, iron/manganese/silicon, or other nickel/titanium alloys.  
   
   
       9 . The actuator of  claim 8 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire comprises nitinol.  
   
   
       10 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising means for causing the engagement mechanism to move when the shape memory alloy wire expands.  
   
   
       11 . A diffuser for use in a fluid distribution system for the distribution of fluid in. at least one selected pattern, comprising: 
 a. at least one blade for directing the flow of fluid; and    b. at least one shape memory alloy wire in direct or indirect cooperation with the blade and capable of causing the blade to change position in response to a temperature change in the fluid.    
   
   
       12 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one actuator, the actuator comprising an engagement mechanism for engaging the blade to position or reposition the blade; wherein the shape memory alloy wire is connected to the engagement mechanism and is capable of causing the engagement mechanism to change position.  
   
   
       13 . The diffuser of  claim 12 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire is capable of expanding or contracting based on the temperature of the fluid in the distribution system, such that when the shape memory alloy wire contracts, the engagement mechanism is moved to a first position which moves the blade to a corresponding first position, and when the shape memory alloy wire expands, the engagement mechanism is moved to a second position which moves the blade to a corresponding second position.  
   
   
       14 . The diffuser of  claim 13 , further comprising a bias apparatus in cooperation with the engagement mechanism to cause the engagement mechanism to return to the second position when the shape memory wire expands.  
   
   
       15 . The diffuser of  claim 14 , wherein the bias apparatus comprises a spring in cooperation with the engagement mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire is connected directly to the blade.  
   
   
       17 . A fluid distribution system for distributing fluid into a space, comprising a diffuser comprising at least one blade and at least one actuator, the actuator comprising: 
 a. an engagement mechanism for engaging the blade to position or reposition the blade; and    b. a shape memory alloy wire connected to the engagement mechanism and capable of causing the engagement mechanism to change position.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the shape memory alloy wire is capable of expanding or contracting based on the temperature of the fluid in the distribution system, such that when the shape memory alloy wire contracts, the engagement mechanism is moved to a first position which moves the blade to a corresponding first position, and when the shape memory alloy wire expands, the engagement mechanism is moved to a second position which moves the blade to a corresponding second position.  
   
   
       19 . An actuator for use in a fluid distribution system for the distribution of fluid, the actuator comprising: 
 a. an engagement mechanism to engage at least one blade of the fluid distribution system to position or reposition the blade; and    b. means for automatically changing the position of the blade based on the temperature of the fluid without manual adjustment of the position of the blade and without an outside power source providing power to sense temperature of the fluid or to change the position of the blade.    
   
   
       20 . The actuator of  claim 19 , wherein the means for automatically changing the position of the blade comprises means to cause a non-gradual change in the position of the blade.  
   
   
       21 . The actuator of  claim 19 , wherein the means for automatically changing the position of the blade comprises a shape memory alloy wire connected to the blade or to the engagement mechanism and capable of causing the blade to change position.  
   
   
       22 . A method of automatically switching a diffuser between vertical fluid flow pattern and horizontal fluid flow pattern, comprising: 
 a. having blade position of the diffuser biased to one of the vertical fluid flow pattern or the horizontal fluid flow pattern;    b. sensing the temperature of the fluid with a shape memory alloy wire;    c. actuating a change of blade position to the opposite of the bias position by the shape memory alloy wire in response to the temperature of the fluid.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising actuating a change of blade position back to the bias position in response to the temperature of the fluid.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein actuating a change of blade position comprises changing the blade position non-gradually.