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. 06, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 03, 2004
Ali Ghorbal, Antioch, CA (US);
Sandheep K. Surendran, San Francisco, CA (US);
Andrei Szilagyi, Danville, CA (US);
Peter Emery Von Behrens, Antioch, CA (US);
Jean-pierre Maeder, Moraga, CA (US);
Ali Ghorbal, Antioch, CA (US);
Sandheep K. Surendran, San Francisco, CA (US);
Andrei Szilagyi, Danville, CA (US);
Peter Emery von Behrens, Antioch, CA (US);
Jean-Pierre Maeder, Moraga, CA (US);
Alfmeler Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen, Treuchitlingen, DE;
Abstract
A valve system including a number of shape memory alloy ('SMA')-actuated valves for controlling the flow of fluids is disclosed as is a variety of types of SMA-actuated valves and methods of operation. In one embodiment, a valve system includes a housing having a substantially closed cavity as well as a second port for communicating a fluid. Further, the valve system includes a first SMA actuator configured to control the position of the first seal to vary fluid flow through the firs port, and a first temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the seal by an amount proportional to temperature. A second SMA-actuated valve, driven by either a unidirectional or a bidirectional SMA actuator, controls the position of the second seal to vary fluid flow through the second port, and a second temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the second seal by another amount proportional to temperature.