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US 2005/0029901 A1Published application
Electro-thermal actuation device
AssigneeELTEK S.p.A.
InventorsCostanzo Gadini, Renato Gaj, Marco Moro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprises a casing defining a cavity (Z1, Z2) in which there are arranged a thermal actuator (6), an electric heater (10), at least a part of an actuating shaft (3) and at least a part of two electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying the heater (10). The casing is formed by two half-shells (2A, 2B) mutually coupled along two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to a respective half-shell. Sealing means (15, G) are provided, which are operatively arranged between the two surfaces of junction (S) and cooperating with a respective half-shell (2A, 2B) for hermetically insulating al least a part of the inner cavity (Z1, Z2) from the external environment.
Claims72
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that sealing means (15, G;
- 31, G1;
- 31, G2;
- 31;
- R, 40) are provided, operatively arranged between said surfaces of junction (S) and cooperating with a respective piece (2A, 2B) of the casing (2) in order to hermetically insulate at least a part (Z2) of said inner cavity (Z1, Z2) with respect to the external environment.
11 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that at least a seat is defined (16, 30) in said casing (2), partially obtained in a first one (2B) of said two pieces and partially obtained in a second one (2A) of said two pieces, said seat (16, 30) being capable of cooperating with annular shaped sealing means (15, 31).
7 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that sealing means (15, G;
- 31, G1;
- 31, G2;
- 31;
- R, 40) are provided, for hermetically insulating at least a part (Z2) of said inner cavity (Z1, Z2), comprising at least an annular gasket (15, 31), which is partly housed in a first seat obtained in a first one (2B) of said two pieces, and partly housed in a second seat, obtained in a second one (2A) of said two pieces.
11 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that only within said second zone (Z2) an electrically insulating material (42) is present, which is injected into said cavity (Z1, Z2) after the coupling or junction of said two pieces (2A, 2B), and that there are provided sealing or separation means (15, 2A′, 2B′, 41) for preventing infiltrations of said electrically insulating material (42) towards said first zone (Z1).
7 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that said two pieces (2A, 2B) are welded or made integral to each other for sealing purposes by means of a process of melting and solidification of material constituting the two pieces (2A, 2B).
7 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that a housing (8A) is defined on said body (8) for positioning respective sealing means (15;
- 15′), said sealing means (15;
- 15′) cooperating for sealing purposes between said body (8) and a respective piece (2A, 2B) of the casing (2).
9 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- characterized in that in the surface of junction (S) of at least a first one (2B) of said two pieces a first seat (16, SG;
- 30, SG;
- 30, SG2;
- 30;
- SR) is defined, for partially housing sealing means (15, G;
- 31, G1;
- 31, G2;
- 31, R, 40).
14 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase in the volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of sliding following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- said terminals (11, 12) have each a first part positioned within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second part protruding out of said cavity (Z1, Z2),
- said casing (2) is formed by at least two half-shells or pieces (2A, 2B) mutually coupled or joined, an area of junction being present between said pieces (2A, 2B), which area is formed by two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to one of said pieces,
- an annular gasket (15, 31) is provided, which cooperates, on the one side, with at least one between said body (8) and said shaft (3) and, on the other side, with at least one of said pieces (2A, 2B) in order to hermetically insulate at least a part (Z2) of said inner cavity (Z1, Z2) with respect to the external environment,
- said surfaces of junction (S) are mutually welded or made integral to each other through a process of melting and solidification of material constituting said two pieces (2A, 2B).
8 more elements
An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprising
- a thermal actuator (6) having a body (8) containing a thermally expansible material (MD), a piston (7) partially inserted into said body (8) and seal means (MT) operating on at least one of said body (8) and said piston (7),
- an electric heater (10), capable of heating said body (8) in order to cause an increase of volume of said expansible material (MD), and displacing said piston (7),
- a shaft (3) capable of moving following displacement of said piston (7),
- electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying said heater (10),
- wherein
- said body (8) and said heater (10) are arranged in an inner cavity (Z1, Z2) of a casing (2) of the device (1),
- said shaft (3) has a first portion (3A) constantly arranged within said cavity (Z1, Z2) and a second portion capable of come out to the outside of said cavity (Z1, Z2) through a passage formed at an end of said casing (2),
- wherein a body portion (18) of said casing (2) and a contact portion of said terminals (11, 12) are arranged to form an electrical connector having at least two poles.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.