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:
Mar. 25, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1994
Luciano Veronesi, Blawnox/O'Hara Township, PA (US);
Ian L Wilson, Murrysville, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A passively temperature actuated valve has a shape memory alloy (SMA) mechanism connected to a lever arm which engages the valve stem to actuate the valve against the biasing force of a valve stem biasing spring when the ambient temperature rises above the transition temperature of the SMA. The SMA mechanism can include an SMA rod, but preferably has a tube of shape memory alloy supported in couplings which allow ambient fluid to freely pass through the tube. A stack of Bellville springs concentrically mounted over the tube biases the tribe to the elongated condition when below the transition temperature. An optional latch latches the valve in the actuated position if it is required that the valve remain actuated when the ambient temperature falls below the transition temperature and the Bellville springs again elongate the SMA member.