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US 4,288,064 AGranted
Timed-action actuators
OwnerAlfred R. Austeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resettable apparatus including a deformable restraining element adapted to contact and restrain active elements for producing a time-delayed force or displacement response. The apparatus functions by the release of the force and/or displacement active element by the creep deformation action of the restraining element at a time interval after actuation of the active element.
Claims15
A resettable apparatus for producing time delayed force and/or displacement response comprising in combination:
- a first or restraining element, said first element being constructed of a material that will, under load, exhibit creep deformation within its intended operating temperature range;
- and
- a second or force producing element disposed proximate said first element so that said second element can be moved into contact with said first element to engage said first element and produce elastic distortion of said first element;
- whereby when said second element is moved into an actuation position the elastically distorted portion of said first element creeps such as to increase the distortion under load to, after a time delay, release or permit said second element to return to its original or released position.
1 more element
An apparatus for producing time delayed force and/or displacement response comprising in combination:
- a first or restraining element, said first element being constructed of a viscoelastic material exhibiting a definable creep rate under deformation loading at its intended operating temperature;
- and
- a second or force element disposed proximate said first element so that said second element can be moved into an operating position to contact and deform said first element under a load;
- wherein said deformation loading of said first element initiates creep deformation of that portion of said first element in contact with said second element to after a time delay release said second element to act.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.