Patent US3574275A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3574275A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermally actuated motor with automatically returnable shaft
Assignee: Thermal Hydraulics Corp
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Filing: 1969-09-24
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Granted: 1971-04-13
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Expires: 1989-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A thermally actuated motor provided with an axially reciprocable, automatically returnable shaft, comprising a differential diameter shaft having a radially extending flange between its larger and smaller diameter members, and a rubber sleeve surrounding each of said shaft members and bearing on opposite sides of the flange between said flange and end walls of a housing which contains the shaft, a heating element and expansible material. Pressure of the expansible heated material on the shaft through the rubber sleeves causes movement of the shaft in one direction, and withdrawal of pressure due to cooling of the expansible material automatically causes movement of the shaft in the opposite direction. The rubber sleeves also serve as seals to prevent loss of expansible material from the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin A Staschke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:14
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A thermally actuated motor with automatically returnable shaft comprising: a. a pressure withstanding housing having a chamber containing heat-responsive expansible material; b. a differential diameter shaft having a larger and a smaller diameter member, axially reciprocable in the chamber; c. a flange extending radially from the shaft between the larger and smaller diameter members; d. resilient means in pressure receiving contact with the expansible material in the chamber engaging each of said shaft members to bear on opposite sides of the flange and on housing walls in the chamber and exerting differential pressure on said shaft when subjected to pressure of heated expansible material to move the shaft axially in one direction, said shaft automatically moving in the opposite direction when pressure on the resilient means is withdrawn due to cooling of the expansible material; and e. means for heating the expansible material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A thermally actuated motor with automatically returnable shaft comprising: a. a pressure withstanding housing having a chamber containing heat-responsive expansible material; b. a differential diameter shaft having a larger and a smaller diameter member, axially reciprocable in the chamber; c. a flange extending radially from the shaft between the larger and smaller diameter members; d. resilient means in pressure receiving contact with the expansible material in the chamber engaging each of said shaft members to bear on opposite sides of the flange and on housing walls in the chamber and exerting differential pressure on said shaft when subjected to pressure of heated expansible material to move the shaft axially in one direction, said shaft automatically moving in the opposite direction when pressure on the resilient means is withdrawn due to cooling of the expansible material; and e. means for heating the expansible material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The motor defined by claim 1, in which the resilient means are sleeves which surround the differential diameter members of the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The motor defined by claim 1, in which the resilient means are rubber sleeves which surround the differential diameter members of the shaft and have endwise contact with the flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The motor defined by claim 1, in which the resilient means are sleeves made of rubber of different durometer readings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The motor defined by claim 1, in which the shaft has an end which extends through an opening in the housing end wall, and which functions as a pull motor when actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The motor defined by claim 1, in which the housing comprises an outer housing member having an internally threaded cylindrical sidewall and integral end wall, and an inner casing member having an externally threaded cylindrical sidewall and an integral end wall, the threaded walls engaging each other and the end walls constituting opposite ends of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The motor defined by claim 6, in which the resilient means on one of the shaft members includes a disclike flange bearing on the housing end wall and having its peripheral edge clamped between the end of the casing sidewall and the housing end wall to form a seal preventing loss of expansible material from the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The motor defined by claim 6, in which the resilient means on the shaft members exert pressure against the shaft flange and against the respective end walls of the casing and housing to provide seals which prevent loss of expansible material from the chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The motor defined by claim 2, in which the resilient sleeves are under pressure in axial directions when assembled with the shaft in the motor chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A thermally actuated motor with automatically returnable shaft comprising: a. a pressure withstanding housing having a chamber containing expansible material; b. a differential diameter shaft axially reciprocable in the chamber having larger and smaller diameter members; c. a flange extending radially from the shaft between the larger and smaller diameter members of the shaft; d. resilient means in pressure receiving contact with the expansible material engaging each of said shaft members to bear on opposite sides of the flange and on a housing wall; and e. means for causing expansion of the expansible material and thereby exerting differential pressure on the shaft through the resilient means to move the shaft in one direction, contraction of the expansible material automatically cAusing withdrawal of pressure on the shaft through the resilient means and movement of the shaft in the opposite direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A thermally actuated motor with automatically returnable shaft comprising: a. a pressure withstanding housing having a chamber containing expansible material; b. a differential diameter shaft axially reciprocable in the chamber having larger and smaller diameter members; c. a flange extending radially from the shaft between the larger and smaller diameter members of the shaft; d. resilient means in pressure receiving contact with the expansible material engaging each of said shaft members to bear on opposite sides of the flange and on a housing wall; and e. means for causing expansion of the expansible material and thereby exerting differential pressure on the shaft through the resilient means to move the shaft in one direction, contraction of the expansible material automatically cAusing withdrawal of pressure on the shaft through the resilient means and movement of the shaft in the opposite direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The motor defined by claim 10, in which the resilient means on the shaft members are rubber sleeves differing from each other in radial width and differing from each other in their response to pressure exerted by the expansible material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The motor defined by claim 11, in which the rubber sleeves have different durometer readings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |