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:
May. 02, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 11, 2012
Chevron U.s.a. Inc., San Ramon, CA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Eric Wright Gilbertson, Cambridge, MA (US);
Franz Hover, Somerville, MA (US);
Donald Bryan Freeman, Houston, TX (US);
Jose Arellano, Houston, TX (US);
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA (US);
CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., San Ramon, CA (US);
Abstract
A valve actuator, valve, and method of actuation of a valve are disclosed. The valve actuator includes a shape memory alloy element attachable to a valve body, capable of use with a valve to cause movement of the valve between first and second positions responsive to at least a threshold amount of temperature change of the shape memory alloy element. The valve actuator further includes a negative-differential spring applied to the shape memory alloy element, thereby reducing the threshold amount of temperature change needed to cause movement of the valve between the first and second positions.