ACTUATOR AND VALVE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part, said actuator comprising:
- a shape memory wire, said wire contracting when heated, one portion of said shape memory wire fixed to a first body, another portion of said shape memory wire coupled to a second body, said second body movable relative to said first body, when heated said shape memory wire contracts and moves said second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to said first body toward a second position;
a magnetic field, said magnetic field generating a magnetic force on said second body, said magnetic force acting on and moving said second body in said direction of travel to said second position after said shape memory wire initially contracts; and
said magnetic force decoupling said second body from said shape memory wire when applying said magnetic force to said second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to said second position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts when heated. One portion of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body, and another portion of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. The actuator further includes a magnetic field for generating a magnetic force on the second body. The magnetic force acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts, and further decouples the second body from the shape memory wire when applying the magnetic force to the second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part, said actuator comprising:
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a shape memory wire, said wire contracting when heated, one portion of said shape memory wire fixed to a first body, another portion of said shape memory wire coupled to a second body, said second body movable relative to said first body, when heated said shape memory wire contracts and moves said second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to said first body toward a second position; a magnetic field, said magnetic field generating a magnetic force on said second body, said magnetic force acting on and moving said second body in said direction of travel to said second position after said shape memory wire initially contracts; and said magnetic force decoupling said second body from said shape memory wire when applying said magnetic force to said second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part, said actuator comprising:
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a shape memory wire, said wire contracting when heated, one portion of said shape memory wire fixed to a first body, another portion of said shape memory wire coupled to a second body, said second body movable relative to said first body, when heated said shape memory wire contracts and moves said second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to said first body toward a second position; a first magnet mounted to said first body and a second magnet mounted to said second body, said magnets generating a magnetic field, said magnetic field generating a magnetic force acting on and moving said second body in said direction of travel to said second position after said shape memory wire initially contracts to thereby unload the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to said second position; and said second magnet being offset from said first magnet in a direction generally parallel to the direction of travel of said second body, and said second magnet moving past said first magnet when said second body moves in said direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part, said actuator comprising:
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a shape memory wire, said wire contracting when heated, one portion of said shape memory wire fixed to a first body, another portion of said shape memory wire coupled to a second body, said second body movable relative to said first body, when heated said shape memory wire contracts and moves said second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to said first body toward a second position, and said direction travel being parallel to said wire; and a magnetic field, said magnetic field generating a magnetic force, said magnetic force acting on said second body and moving said second body in said direction of travel wherein the length of contraction of said wire induces a substantially equal longitudinal movement in said second body in said direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification