| abstract |
The invention provides actuator assemblies (100, 200) comprising a piston chambers (111, 211), piston rods (112, 212), reservoir chambers (120, 220a & 220b) connected to the piston chamber and containing a working substance (121, 221) for providing variable pressurisation to the piston chamber to move the piston rod relative to the piston chamber, and a heating apparatus (231, 232) for heating the working substance in the reservoir, thereby causing the working substance to expand and pressurise the piston chamber. The working substance comprises wax (122, 222) and a conductive particulate (123, 223) within the wax which may be graphene. The device may be used for example on an aircraft. |