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:
Jan. 12, 2016
Filed:
May. 24, 2011
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Mark A. Kramarczyk, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Mark A. Kramarczyk, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A quick-return active material actuator adapted for more rapidly returning a load, so as to reduce the de-actuation time of a system, includes in a first aspect a thermally activated active material actuation element drivenly coupled to the load, an active material de-actuation element drivenly coupled to the load non-antagonistic to the actuation element, and a reconfigurable mechanism interconnecting the elements and load, wherein the de-actuation element and mechanism are cooperatively configured to return the load while the actuation element is still activated, and, in a second aspect a thermally activated active material actuation element drivenly coupled to a biased load and operable to autonomously release, so that the load is caused to be returned while the actuation element is still activated, and subsequently re-engage the load.