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Title:
SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATED FLUID CONTROL VALVE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2001033306
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The SMA driven fluid control valve actuator includes a multiplicity of SMA wire sections for moving the movable element from a biased first position to a second position when heated. An electrical controller controls the heating of the SMA wire sections by regulating current therethrough, and may be governed by a position measurement to regulate current to the SMA drive element to position the movable element to a desired position. The valve actuator may also include a temperature controller governed by temperature signal provided by a temperature-sensing means in proximity to the SMA drive element to activate a cooling device for reducing the temperature surrounding the SMA drive element. The electrical controller may also be governed by both a position measurement and a temperature signal to regulate current to the SMA drive element and to control the cooling device to position the movable element to a desired position.

Inventors:
HINES ANTONIO (US)
GAUSMAN THEODORE J (US)
GLIME WILLIAM H (US)
HILL STEVEN H (CA)
RIGSBY BRUCE S (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2000/029538
Publication Date:
September 20, 2001
Filing Date:
October 27, 2000
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SWAGELOK CO (US)
HINES ANTONIO (US)
GAUSMAN THEODORE J (US)
GLIME WILLIAM H (US)
HILL STEVEN H (CA)
RIGSBY BRUCE S (US)
International Classes:
F16K31/00; F03G7/06; (IPC1-7): G05D7/06; F16K31/02; F03G7/06
Foreign References:
US5345963A1994-09-13
US5927400A1999-07-27
EP0841510A11998-05-13
US5685148A1997-11-11
EP0466135A21992-01-15
EP0566303A11993-10-20
US4813126A1989-03-21
EP0554128A11993-08-04
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