The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 13, 1993
Filed:
Apr. 06, 1992
Paul E Thoma, Cedarburg, WI (US);
Johnson Service Company, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to hollow elements prepared from alloys having shape memory characteristics and techniques for heating the elements to effect the martensite (or R-phase) to austenite transformation. In its most preferred embodiment, the invention relates to the use of shape memory alloys to prepare hollow springs or tubular beams, bending and torsional, and the preferred methods of heating the elements include passing an insulated resistance heating wire through the core thereof and applying a current, or applying two layers of coating to the inside or outside of the tube, one of which is insulating and the other of which is electrically conductive. In the latter example, application of current to the conductive coating will heat the element. It is also envisioned that hot fluid may be passed through the element as the heating technique.