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:
Dec. 03, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Warren W Porter, Escondido, CA (US);
AT&T Global Information Solutions Company, Dayton, OH (US);
Abstract
A heat operated release mechanism. The release mechanism is controllable to allow a heat exchanger to be firmly held in place over a heat producing element and effortlessly withdrawn when so desired. A spring is disposed above a heat producing element forming a variable-volume cavity between the spring and the heat producing element. The spring applies pressure to a heat exchanger inserted into the cavity. A memory metal plate is disposed between the spring and the heat exchanger. The memory metal plate has a selectable first shape at a low temperature for allowing the spring to apply pressure to the heat exchanger and a selectable second shape at elevated temperatures for displacing the spring to increase the volume of the cavity. Finally, a controllable heater is disposed between the spring and the memory metal plate for applying heat to the memory metal to select the second shape thereby increasing the volume of the cavity to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the heat exchanger. Thus, a high spring force is provided while still facilitating insertion and withdrawal of a heat exchanger without the use of tools.