Electronically controlled sealing, unsealing and/or bonding with metal strip or wire coated with liquefiable substance for redundant application and tamper detection
US7259357B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02D41/042
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention seals, unseals and/or bonds plastics, waxes and resins via a thermal metal strip or wire coated with liquefiable substances that melt to open or separate and cool to congeal, seal, vulcanize or bond together when the wire or strip is energized in a shorted state (to heat) or not energized (to cool). Electronic switch modalities and sealing applications are optionally taught for security and tamper detection. In one modality, a unique signal is sent to the gate leg of a micro-processing chip (e.g. an SCR switch) where firmware recognizes the signal and permits current through a thermal wire. This innovation is optionally employed for Homeland Security.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.