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:
Jun. 17, 2008
Filed:
May. 16, 2005
Joseph J. Jira, Chandler, AZ (US);
Robert D. Sleeper, Laveen, AZ (US);
Mark W. Williams, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Stuart K. Denike, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Don J. Atkins, Chandler, AZ (US);
Joseph J. Jira, Chandler, AZ (US);
Robert D. Sleeper, Laveen, AZ (US);
Mark W. Williams, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Stuart K. Denike, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Don J. Atkins, Chandler, AZ (US);
Honeywell International Inc., Morristown, NJ (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a collapsible shaft and control assembly that is useful for transferring rotational control valve movements to a control surface. The invention includes a housing, shaft, and actuator arm. The housing defines a hollow cylinder. The shaft has a resilient end with a plurality of flexible strips capable of radial bending so as to transition between an expanded position and a compressed position. The shaft is positioned in the hollow cylinder, in the expanded position, so that the shaft can rotate. The actuator arm is positioned within the resilient end of the shaft so as to maintain the resilient end of the shaft in the expanded position. Both the actuator arm and shaft include reciprocal engagement means, and the actuator arm and shaft are positioned so as to engage the reciprocal engagement means. A rotational movement of the actuator arm thus causes a rotational movement of the shaft. A flapper affixed to the shaft can direct air depending on the radial position of the shaft.