Patent · US Expired

Memory metal actuator

US4553393A · kind A · utility

336Cited by
17References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 1983
Grant dateNov 19, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF03G7/067
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A mechanical actuator can be constructed by employing a plurality of memory metal actuator elements in parallel to control the amount of actuating force. In order to facilitate direct control by digital control signals provided by a computer or the like, the actuating elements may vary in stiffness according to a binary relationship. The cooling or reset time of the actuator elements can be reduced by employing Peltier junction cooling assemblies in the actuator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.