Patents by Inventor Jean-Pierre Maeder

Jean-Pierre Maeder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • System, method and apparatus for reducing frictional forces and for compensating shape memory alloy-actuated valves and valve systems at high temperatures
    Patent number: 7748405
    Abstract: A valve system including a number of shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated valves for controlling the flow of fluids is disclosed as is a variety of types of SMA-actuated valves and methods of operation. In one embodiment, a valve system includes a housing having a substantially closed cavity as well as a second port for communicating a fluid. Further, the valve system includes a first SMA actuator configured to control the position of the first seal to vary fluid flow through the firs port, and a first temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the seal by an amount proportional to temperature. A second SMA-actuated valve, driven by either a unidirectional or a bidirectional SMA actuator, controls the position of the second seal to vary fluid flow through the second port, and a second temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the second seal by another amount proportional to temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Alfmeler Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen
    Inventors: Ali Ghorbal, Sandheep K. Surendran, Andrei Szilagyi, Peter Emery von Behrens, Jean-Pierre Maeder
  • System, method and apparatus for reducing frictional forces and for compensating shape memory alloy-actuated valves and valve systems at high temperatures
    Publication number: 20070277877
    Abstract: A valve system including a number of shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated valves for controlling the flow of fluids is disclosed as is a variety of types of SMA-actuated valves and methods of operation. In one embodiment, a valve system includes a housing having a substantially closed cavity as well as a second port for communicating a fluid. Further, the valve system includes a first SMA actuator configured to control the position of the first seal to vary fluid flow through the firs port, and a first temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the seal by an amount proportional to temperature. A second SMA-actuated valve, driven by either a unidirectional or a bidirectional SMA actuator, controls the position of the second seal to vary fluid flow through the second port, and a second temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the second seal by another amount proportional to temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Ali Ghorbal, Sandheep Surendran, Andrei Szilagyi, Peter Behrens, Jean-Pierre Maeder