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. 12, 2002
Filed:
May. 30, 2000
Gabriel Silva, Liverpool, NY (US);
Young & Franklin, Inc., Liverpool, NY (US);
Abstract
A quick acting bi-stable actuator having a piezoelectric trigger for moving the snap actuator past its snap over equilibrium that includes a stem that is mounted for axial reciprocation in a pair of bearings and a bi-stable snap over actuator centrally attached to the stem for movement therewith. The rim of the snap over actuator is loosely held within a cavity so that the snap over actuator is generally radially disposed with regard to the axis of the stem. A piezoelectric actuator is arranged to support the snap over actuator close to one of its snap over equilibrium positions and acts as a trigger when energized to move the snap over actuator past the critical equilibrium point whereby the snap over actuator moves rapidly to a second stable position. This, in turn, moves the stem axially from a first home position to an extended position to actuate a valve or the like.