Flat motors

• US 5,543,678 A
• Filed: 05/11/1993
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dane A. Hoiberg
• Original Assignee: Dane A. Hoiberg
• Inventors: Hoiberg, Dane A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skudy, R.
• Application Number:
  US08/060,415
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 310/306, 310/307, 310/26, 310/37, 310/83, 310/268, 60/527
• US Class Current: 310/307
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element

Abstract

A flat motor. The flat motor comprises a substrate, a cantilevered, resilient lever arm mounted, by a passive end, on the substrate; and a shape-memory transducer acting on the lever arm wherein movement of the transducer deflects the lever arm.

Claims

1. A flat motor comprising:

a substrate;

a cantilevered lever arm mounted, by a first end, on the substrate; and

a shape-memory transducer acting on the cantilevered lever arm wherein movement of the transducer deflects the cantilevered lever arm.

2. A motor as recited in claim 1 wherein the cantilevered lever arm is arched in shape.

3. A motor as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a crank pivotally attached to the substrate; and

the cantilevered lever arm attached to the crank to thereby rotate the crank.

4. A motor as recited in claim 1 further comprising an electrical circuit to power the memory transducer and to regulate deflection of the cantilevered lever arm.

5. A motor as recited in claim 1 further comprising limit stops to prevent overstretching of the shape-memory transducer.

6. A motor as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a latch; and

a second end of the cantilevered lever arm which engages the latch to thereby release the latch when the transducer is activated.

7. A motor as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

an electrically conductive strip attached to the substrate;

a plurality of electrically conductive elements attached to the substrate adjacent to the strip; and

a wiper arm attached to the crank wherein the wiper arm bridges the strip and the elements to complete an electrical circuit with the shape memory transducer to thereby move the crank to a preselected position.

8. A motor as recited in claim 1 wherein the cantilevered lever arm engages and activates a sprocket.

9. A motor comprising:

a substrate;

a cantilevered lever arm mounted, by a first end, on the substrate;

a shape-memory transducer acting on the cantilevered lever arm wherein movement of the transducer deflects the cantilevered lever arm;

a latch; and

second end of the cantilevered lever arm which engages the latch to thereby release the latch when the transducer is activated.

10. A motor comprising:

a substrate;

a cantilevered lever arm mounted, by a first end, on the substrate;

a shape-memory transducer acting on the cantilevered lever arm wherein movement of the transducer deflects the cantilevered lever arm;

an electrically conductive strip attached to the substrate;

a plurality of electrically conductive elements attached to the substrate adjacent to the strip; and

a wiper arm attached to the crank wherein the wiper arm bridges the strip and the elements to complete an electrical circuit with the shape-memory transducer to thereby move the crank to a preselected position.

11. A motor comprising:

a substrate;

a cantilevered lever arm mounted, by a first end, on the substrate;

a shape-memory transducer acting on the cantilevered lever arm wherein movement of the transducer deflects the cantilevered lever arm;

a bracket attached to the cantilevered lever arm;

finger arms attached to the bracket; and

a sprocket wheel wherein the finger arms engage the sprocket wheel.