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:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2001
Antonio Hines, Tampa, FL (US);
Theodore J. Gausman, Concord, OH (US);
William H. Glime, Painesville, OH (US);
Steven H. Hill, Nanaimo, CA;
Bruce S. Rigsby, Charlestown, IN (US);
Swangelok Company, Solon, OH (US);
Abstract
An electrically controlled fluid control valve comprises an electrical position controller governed by a signal proportional to the position of a movable element of the valve to regulate current to a shape memory alloy (SMA) valve actuator to position the movable element to a desired position. The control valve may also include a temperature controller governed by a signal provided by a temperature-sensing element in proximity to the valve actuator to activate a cooling device for reducing the surrounding temperature. A digital selector switch may be used for generating a digital code of a selected heating rate which may govern the electrical controller to regulate current to the SMA drive element. The electrical controller may also be governed by both position measurement and a temperature signals to regulate current to the SMA valve actuator and to control the cooling device to position the movable element to a desired position.