Temperature compensating insert for a mechanically leveraged smart material actuator
US7132781B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 2003 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02N2/043
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus having a smart material actuator, a support structure and at least one temperature compensating material insert, either externally mounted to the support structure, integrally formed with the support structure, or any combination thereof. The apparatus includes a mechanically leveraged electrically stimulated smart material. The support structure and actuator are susceptible to the effects of differences in thermal coefficients of expansion of the materials used in the construction. The smart material typically displaces less than 0.001 inches and is leveraged up to fifty times to obtain useful movement. The temperature effect on the smart material is therefore leveraged and amplified producing undesirable motion in the apparatus with ambient and/or operating temperature changes. A method for dimensioning and placement of a compensating insert with respect to the support structure provides an accurate and cost effective compensating insert.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.