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:
Apr. 09, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2010
David Mumford, Vancouver, CA;
Alan Welch, Vancouver, CA;
Alain Touchette, Vancouver, CA;
Mike Hebbes, Dexter, MI (US);
Richard Wing, Bowen Island, CA;
David Mumford, Vancouver, CA;
Alan Welch, Vancouver, CA;
Alain Touchette, Vancouver, CA;
Mike Hebbes, Dexter, MI (US);
Richard Wing, Bowen Island, CA;
Westport Power Inc., Vancouver, BC, CA;
Abstract
A method is provided for operating a directly actuated valve that comprises a strain-type actuator to actuate a valve member to travel between a closed position and an open position, the method comprising transmitting displacements from the strain-type actuator to the valve member, maintaining a compressive stress on the actuator that is greater than a predetermined minimum stress by applying a pre-load compressive stress and limiting to less than predetermined limits at least one of: (a) acceleration and deceleration of the valve member when moving between open positions and the closed position; and (b) velocity of said valve member immediately before contacting the valve seat.