Patent US4175564A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3684994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hot wire relay type devices and methods of maintaining or producing such devices
Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
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Filing: 1969-07-02
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1989-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A hot wire relay type device, formed from an alloy composition exhibiting a characteristic of mechanical shape memory as a result of martensitic-type transformation, is operatively maintained or produced for use as a heat reactive controller in a way so that the supported termination portions do not react to heat or, at the very least, heat above transition simultaneously with the portion of the device intermediate such termination portions whereby the wire achieves a thermal balance throughout its entire body.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh Jean Tyler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H61/00; H01H61/01; H01H61/0107; H01H2061/0115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A heat reactive controller for actuators of the type used in hot wire relays and the like, said controller comprising an elongated wire having a center portion terminating in a pair of spaced opposite end portions, said wire being formed from a material having temperature actuated mechanical shape memory and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature and a distorted shape below said predetermined transition temperature; and a pair of spaced clamping means anchoring said end portions with said wire distorted under mechanical load below said predetermined transition temperature; said center portion having a first hardness less than that of said end portions below said transition temperature and a second hardness substantiaLly equal to that of said end portions at said transition temperature whereby heating of said wire to at least said transition temperature causes said wire to tend to resume its initial shape with substantially uniform hardness throughout the length of said wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A heat reactive controller for actuators of the type used in hot wire relays and the like, said controller comprising an elongated wire having a center portion terminating in a pair of spaced opposite end portions, said wire being formed from a material having temperature actuated mechanical shape memory and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature and a distorted shape below said predetermined transition temperature; and a pair of spaced clamping means anchoring said end portions with said wire distorted under mechanical load below said predetermined transition temperature; said center portion having a first hardness less than that of said end portions below said transition temperature and a second hardness substantiaLly equal to that of said end portions at said transition temperature whereby heating of said wire to at least said transition temperature causes said wire to tend to resume its initial shape with substantially uniform hardness throughout the length of said wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller according to claim 1 wherein said center portion only is annealed to obtain a modulus of elasticity change in only said center portion with a change in temperature, the end portions anchored by the clamping means remaining hard at all times.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller according to claim 1 wherein said center portion only is annealed to obtain a modulus in torsion change in only said center portion with a change in temperature, the end portions anchored by the clamping means remaining hard at all times.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The controller according to claim 1 wherein said end portions are prehardened independent of temperature to have a hardness greater than that of said center portion below said transition temperature whereby the hardness of said end portion is substantially unaffected by said transition temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The controller according to claim 1 wherein said end portions comprise hard wire segments having substantially no change in hardness at said transition temperature, said segments being welded to the wire forming the center portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A heat reactive controller for actuators of the type used in hot wire relays and the like, said controller comprising; an elongated wire having a center portion terminating in a pair of spaced opposite end portions, said wire being formed from a material having temperature actuated mechanical shape memory and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature and a distorted shape below said predetermined transition temperature; and a pair of spaced clamping means anchoring said end portions with said wire distorted under mechanical load below said predetermined transition temperature, said center portion being helically coiled with outwardly diminishing diameter coils with the outermost loops terminating in straight axial projections forming said end portions, whereby stress on the end portions is reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A heat reactive controller for actuators of the type used in hot wire relays and the like, said controller comprising; an elongated wire having a center portion terminating in a pair of spaced opposite end portions, said wire being formed from a material having temperature actuated mechanical shape memory and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature and a distorted shape below said predetermined transition temperature; and a pair of spaced clamping means anchoring said end portions with said wire distorted under mechanical load below said predetermined transition temperature, said center portion being helically coiled with outwardly diminishing diameter coils with the outermost loops terminating in straight axial projections forming said end portions, whereby stress on the end portions is reduced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A heat reactive controller for actuators of the type used in hot wire relays and the like, said controller comprising: an elongated wire having a center portion terminating in a pair of spaced opposite end portions, said wire being formed from a material having temperature actuated mechanical shape memory and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature and a distorted shape below said predetermined transition temperature; and a pair of spaced clamping means anchoring said end portions with said wire distorted under mechanical load below said predetermined transition temperature; means to allow the end portions to heat at the same rate as the center of the wire, whereby heating of said wire to at least said transition temperature causes said wire to substantially uniformly heat and tend to resume its initial shape with substantially uniform hardness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
A heat reactive controller for actuators of the type used in hot wire relays and the like, said controller comprising: an elongated wire having a center portion terminating in a pair of spaced opposite end portions, said wire being formed from a material having temperature actuated mechanical shape memory and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature and a distorted shape below said predetermined transition temperature; and a pair of spaced clamping means anchoring said end portions with said wire distorted under mechanical load below said predetermined transition temperature; means to allow the end portions to heat at the same rate as the center of the wire, whereby heating of said wire to at least said transition temperature causes said wire to substantially uniformly heat and tend to resume its initial shape with substantially uniform hardness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The controller according to claim 7 further comprising a coating on said center portion, said coating having a greater thickness at the middle of said wire and tapering in thickness toward the ends, whereby heating of said center portion is retarded and said wire is substantially uniformly heated to achieve uniform hardness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The controller according to claim 7 further comprising a pair of large diameter, low mass heat insulators spaced from each other on opposite ends of the center portions, each insulator being wrapped with turns of said wire, said turns being close together so as to induce self-heating of the end portions and thereby provide uniform heating in and uniform hardness of said controller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The controller according to claim 9 wherein each said insulator comprises a star-shaped mass acting as a capstan.
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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) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |