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:
Jul. 07, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2003
Robert Ryan Vallance, South Riding, VA (US);
Bruce L. Walcott, Lexington, KY (US);
James E. Lumpp, Lexington, KY (US);
Aravind Balasubramanian, Lexington, KY (US);
Osamah A. Rawashdeh, Lexington, KY (US);
Robert Ryan Vallance, South Riding, VA (US);
Bruce L. Walcott, Lexington, KY (US);
James E. Lumpp, Lexington, KY (US);
Aravind Balasubramanian, Lexington, KY (US);
Osamah A. Rawashdeh, Lexington, KY (US);
The University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
A linear actuator is provided, comprising a housing defining an interior channel, a stop extending from the housing and displaceable relative to the housing, and at least one wire formed of a shape-memory alloy, the wire being attached at a first end to the stop and at a second end to the housing. When heated to a predetermined temperature, the wire applies a pulling force to the stop to cause the stop to slide in a first direction into the housing interior channel. A spring located in the housing interior channel applies a biasing force to the stop in a second direction counter to the first direction when the wire cools, thereby returning the stop to the unactuated position. A wire heater is provided, which may be an electrical source for resistive heating of the wire. Multiple actuators of the present invention may be configured in parallel to increase the force generated by the wires. In yet another embodiment the actuators of the invention may be arranged in a serial configuration for controlling a rotary or carousel dispenser.