US4841730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal actuator
Assignee: Pda Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-05
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Granted: 1989-06-27
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Expires: 2008-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An actuator comprising an actuator body, a shape memory member mounted on the body and a heating element in heat exchange relationship to the shape memory member. By activating the heating element, sufficient heat is generated to heat the shape memory member to its transition temperature so that it deforms from a distorted shape toward its original shape.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. McDonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:06
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/06; F03G7/061; F03G7/0614; F03G7/06146; F03G7/06145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An actuator comprising: an actuator body; a shape memory member that deforms from a distorted shape toward an original shape when subjected to a transition temperature, said shape memory member being in said distorted shape; means for mounting the shape memory member on the actuator body so that the shape memory member can deform from said distorted shape toward said original shape; a heating element in heat exchange relationship to the shape memory member, said heating element including at least first and second components capable when activated of interacting exothermically even in the absence of atmospheric air to heat the shape memory member to said transition temperature whereby the shape memory member deforms toward the original shape; and means for activating the first and second components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An actuator comprising: an actuator body; a shape memory member that deforms from a distorted shape toward an original shape when subjected to a transition temperature, said shape memory member being in said distorted shape; means for mounting the shape memory member on the actuator body so that the shape memory member can deform from said distorted shape toward said original shape; a heating element in heat exchange relationship to the shape memory member, said heating element including at least first and second components capable when activated of interacting exothermically even in the absence of atmospheric air to heat the shape memory member to said transition temperature whereby the shape memory member deforms toward the original shape; and means for activating the first and second components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second components when activated react chemically and exothermically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second components include an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An actuator as defined in claim 3 wherein the first and second components are solid and the exothermic interaction gives off essentially no gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second components when activated interact to yield heat of solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating element includes heat paper or a heat pellet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating element is nongaseous.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating element is a solid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the exothermic interaction gives off essentially no gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second components interact exothermically when in contact with each other, said actuator includes means for isolating said first and second components from each other and said activating means includes means for disrupting the isolating means sufficiently to allow the first and second components to come into contact with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
An actuator as defined in claim 10 wherein at least one of said first and second components is a liquid, said isolating means includes a container for the first component and the activating means includes a bridge wire for disrupting the container sufficiently to allow the first and second components to come into contact with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the activating means includes a bridge wire adjacent at least one of the first and second components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An actuator as defined in claim 12 wherein the first and second components are activated by heat and the bridge wire provides such heat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating element includes a heat sink component for controlling the temperature of the exothermic interaction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 including means including the actuator body for defining an essentially sealed chamber, said heating element being in said chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An actuator as defined in claim 15 including pressure relief means responsive to the pressure in said chamber reaching a predetermined level for relieving the pressure in said chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein portions of the heating element are on opposite sides of the shape memory member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said shape memory member is elongated and is torsionally deformed in said distorted shape and said heating element includes a sleeve portion which receives the shape memory member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 including an actuator member mounted for movement on said actuator body and drivingly coupled to said shape memory member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An actuator as defined in claim 19 wherein said shape memory member includes a disc drivingly engaging the actuator member, said disc moving the actuator member generally axially when the disc deforms toward said original shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator body includes a housing having a peripheral wall and opposite end walls, said shape memory member is elongated and is torsionally deformed in said distorted shape, said mounting means includes a bearing within said housing, said shape memory member being received in said bearing, said shape memory member having opposite ends with one of said ends being affixed against rotation to one of said end walls and the other of said ends being outside of said housing, said heating element including a sleeve portion which receives the shape memory member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An actuator as defined in claim 21 wherein the activating means includes a bridge wire in the heating element for use in activating the heating element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator body includes a housing having a peripheral wall and opposite end walls with an opening in at least one of said end walls, said shape memory member includes a washer having an aperture therethrough, said actuator includes an actuator member, said shape memory member and said actuator member are mounted in said housing with the shape memory member drivingly engaging the actuator member and with the actuator member being extendible through said opening in said one end wall, said shape memory member having an outer periphery and said actuator includes means for coupling the outer periphery of the shape memory member to the peripheral wall of the actuator housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator body includes a housing having a peripheral wall and opposite end walls with an opening in at least one of said end walls, said shape memory member includes a spring, said actuator includes an actuator member, said shape memory member and said actuator member are mounted in said housing with the shape memory member drivingly engaging the actuator member and with the actuator member being extendible through said opening in said one end wall.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
112 words
An actuator comprising: an actuator body; a shape memory member that deforms from a distorted shape toward an original shape when subjected to a transition temperature, said shape memory member being in said distorted shape; means for mounting the shape memory member on the actuator body so that the shape memory member can deform from said distorted shape toward said original shape; a heating element in heat exchange relationship to the shape memory member, said heating element including at least first and second components at least one of which is nongaseous, said first and second components being capable when activated of interacting exothermically; and means for activating the first and second components.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
112 words
An actuator comprising: an actuator body; a shape memory member that deforms from a distorted shape toward an original shape when subjected to a transition temperature, said shape memory member being in said distorted shape; means for mounting the shape memory member on the actuator body so that the shape memory member can deform from said distorted shape toward said original shape; a heating element in heat exchange relationship to the shape memory member, said heating element including at least first and second components at least one of which is nongaseous, said first and second components being capable when activated of interacting exothermically; and means for activating the first and second components.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
An actuator as defined in claim 25 wherein the heating element is solid and said activating means includes a bridge wire.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
An actuator as defined in claim 25 wherein said heating element is nongaseous.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of raising a shape memory member which has been deformed from an original shape to a distorted shape to its transition temperature, said method comprising: providing a heating element which includes at least first and second components capable when activated of interacting exothermically even in the absence of atmospheric air; and activating the first and second components and allowing them to interact exothermically substantially independently of any ambient atmosphere sufficiently close to the shape memory member and for a sufficient length of time to raise the shape memory member to its transition temperature whereby the shape memory member deforms from a distorted shape toward an original shape.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of raising a shape memory member which has been deformed from an original shape to a distorted shape to its transition temperature, said method comprising: providing a heating element which includes at least first and second components capable when activated of interacting exothermically even in the absence of atmospheric air; and activating the first and second components and allowing them to interact exothermically substantially independently of any ambient atmosphere sufficiently close to the shape memory member and for a sufficient length of time to raise the shape memory member to its transition temperature whereby the shape memory member deforms from a distorted shape toward an original shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 28 wherein said step of allowing is carried out substantially in the absence of atmospheric air.
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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) | 1992-06-26 | 1992-12-26 | 1993-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-26 | 1996-12-26 | 1997-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-26 | 2000-12-26 | 2001-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |