Plug head assemblies

A plug head assembly having a proximal terminus and a distal terminus comprising:

• a frustroconical ceramic plug head, the ceramic plug head having a larger diameter at a proximal face than at a distal face and a first tapered circumference;
• a sleeve, the sleeve having an outer tapered circumference and a second inner tapered circumference in substantial contact with at least a portion of the first tapered circumference;
• a distal retainer having a first engagement portion and a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface in substantial contact with the outer tapered circumference of the sleeve;
• a proximal retainer engaged with the distal retainer at the first engagement portion.

A plug head assembly

• a ceramic plug head having a geometry of a truncated right circular cone having a tapered surface, wherein the ceramic plug head has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE);
• a sleeve having a frustroconical geometry conforming to at least a portion of a side of the ceramic plug head and a second CTE, wherein the second CTE is greater than the first CTE;
• and
• a distal retainer having a frustroconical geometry conforming to at least a portion of the sleeve, the distal retainer having a third CTE, wherein the third CTE is less than the second CTE.

A system comprising:

• a stiff actuator controlled by an actuator control system,
• wherein the actuator control system comprises a position sensor configured to sense a position of the actuator and a controller configured to apply actuation logic in response to data received from the position sensor, and
• a plug head assembly comprising:
• a ceramic plug head,
• wherein the ceramic plug head has a proximal terminus and a distal terminus,
• wherein the ceramic plug head has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE),
• a sleeve having a second CTE, wherein the second CTE is greater than the first CTE,
• a distal retainer having a first engagement portion for engaging a proximal retainer, the proximal retainer having a second engagement portion for engaging the distal retainer;
• and
• a base that receives the proximal retainer,
• wherein the plug head assembly is coupled to the stiff actuator.