Patent ID: 11885428
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  A | IPC A  F

Claim 16:
17. A method for operating a valve comprising a substrate, a conductive polymer, and a shape-memory wire, the method comprising:
transitioning the conductive polymer from a rigid state to a flexible state, wherein the substrate defines an opening therethrough and comprises at least one flap selectively extendable across the opening, and the conductive polymer and the shape-memory wire are coupled to at least one flap; and
actuating the shape-memory wire between a first shape and a second shape while the conductive polymer is in the flexible state, thereby transitioning the valve between an open position and a closed position wherein transitioning the conductive polymer to the flexible state allows the at least one flap to move between the closed position and the open position.