William Jan Donakowski

6762515, Jul 13, 2004

Dec 3, 2001

10/056233

Mark A. Gummin - St. Helena CA
William Donakowski - El Sobrante CA

Perihelian LLC - Berkeley CA

H02K 4100

310 12, 310307, 60528

A linear actuator includes a plurality of sub-modules disposed in adjacent array and adapted to translate reciprocally parallel to a common axis. A plurality of shape memory alloy wires extend generally linearly and parallel to the axis, and are each connected from one end of a sub-module to the opposed end of an adjacent sub-module. The SMA wires are connected in a circuit for ohmic heating that contracts the SMA wires between the sub-modules. The sub-modules are linked by the SMA wires in a serial mechanical connection that combines the constriction stroke displacement of the SMA wires in additive fashion to achieve a long output stroke. Moreover, the sub-modules are assembled in a small volume, resulting in an actuator of minimal size and maximum stroke displacement. The sub-modules may be rods or bars disposed in closely spaced adjacent relationship, or concentric motive elements, with the serial mechanical connection extending from each motive element to the radially inwardly adjacent motive element, whereby the innermost motive element receives the sum of the translational excursions of all the motive elements concentric to the innermost element. The SMA linear actuator includes a restoring spring assembly having a restoring force that decreases with increasing displacement to minimize residual strain in the SMA components.

6832477, Dec 21, 2004

Jul 22, 2002

10/200672

Mark A Gummin - St. Helena CA, 94574
William Donakowski - El Sobrante CA, 94803
Geoffrey A. Gaines - Berkeley CA, 94705

F01B 2910

60527, 60528

Actuators that employs a shape memory alloy component as the driving element include linear and rotational devices. An Intrinsic Return Means (IRM) may be imparted to the SMA actuator, thereby reducing the use of a spring return mechanism. The rotational actuator may include a cylindrical bobbin with a helical groove to receive an SMA wire. A number of turns may be placed in a small length of bobbin to amplify the rotational excursion. In another rotational actuator, a plurality of narrow, coaxial rings are provided, the rings being nested in close concentric fit or stacked in side-by-side fashion. Each ring is provided with a groove extending thereabout to receive an SMA wire and contraction of the wire causes each ring to rotate with respect to the adjacent ring. In an embodiment for linear actuation, the invention provides a bar-like component having SMA wires joined between bars. The invention includes a lost motion coupling to join two counter-acting SMA stroke amplification devices, whether linear or rotational.

6839939, Jan 11, 2005

Jun 3, 2002

10/161535

William J Donakowski - El Sobrante CA, US

B60B 3300

16 45, 16 46, 16 18 R

A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring body having an axial opening, whereby the caster assembly has a large central aperture extending entirely therethrough. A centering ring may be secured in the axial opening with the complementary bearing race formed therein. A hub cap with visual treatment may be secured over the central aperture.

6928812, Aug 16, 2005

Jul 30, 2003

10/632170

William J. Donakowski - El Sobrante CA, US
Mark A. Gummin - St. Helena CA, US
Geoffrey Gaines - Berkeley CA, US

Perihelian, LLC - Berkeley CA

F01B029/10

60527

A method and apparatus for preventing the unintended activation of SMA devices by ambient temperatures that exceed the phase transition temperature of the SMA material itself. In one embodiment a passive actuator is coupled to an active actuator, each having identical arrangements of SMA wire, but connected in opposite directions to compensate for temperature drift that is not due to powered heating. A second embodiment consists of a passive SMA wire connected to a latch/release mechanism allowing the actuator itself to move rather than moving the load. In a third embodiment the passive wire is connected to a load coupling, so that the load itself is disconnected from the actuator when the passive wire reaches the phase transition temperature. The passive wire may be made of a lower-temperature wire than the active wires, so that the release action occurs long before the active wire begins to be moved by ambient temperature.

7021055, Apr 4, 2006

Dec 20, 2004

11/017563

Mark A. Gummin - St. Helena CA, US
William Donakowski - El Sobrante CA, US
Geoffrey A. Gaines - Berkeley CA, US

F01B 29/10

60527, 60528

Actuators that employs a shape memory alloy component as the driving element include linear and rotational devices. An Intrinsic Return Means (IRM) may be imparted to the SMA actuator, thereby reducing the use of a spring return mechanism. The rotational actuator may include a cylindrical bobbin with a helical groove to receive an SMA wire. A number of turns may be placed in a small length of bobbin to amplify the rotational excursion. In another rotational actuator, a plurality of narrow, coaxial rings are provided, the rings being nested in close concentric fit or stacked in side-by-side fashion. Each ring is provided with a groove extending thereabout to receive an SMA wire and contraction of the wire causes each ring to rotate with respect to the adjacent ring. In an embodiment for linear actuation, the invention provides a bar-like component having SMA wires joined between bars. The invention includes a lost motion coupling to join two counter-acting SMA stroke amplification devices, whether linear or rotational.

7150070, Dec 19, 2006

Jan 10, 2005

11/033326

William J. Donakowski - El Sobrante CA, US

B60B 33/00

16 45, 16 46, 16 47, 16 18 R

A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring body having an axial opening, whereby the caster assembly has a large central aperture extending entirely therethrough. A centering ring may be secured in the axial opening with the complementary bearing race formed therein. A hub cap with visual treatment may be secured over the central aperture.

20130236337, Sep 12, 2013

Feb 23, 2013

13/775149

Mark A. Gummin - St. Helena CA, US
Howard Cohen - Berkeley CA, US
William Donakowski - El Sobrante CA, US

H02K 41/02
F04B 43/00
H02K 33/02

417412, 310 14, 310 15

A magnetomotive device has an embedded electromagnetic coil formed of multiple printed conductor segments on multiple lamina of a multilayer PCB. A shaft extends through an opening in the PCB, and a permanent magnet with axially opposed poles is secured to the shaft. Energizing the embedded electromagnet generates a magnetic field that attracts or repels the permanent magnet, driving the shaft to do useful work. A pair of embedded PCB coils may be employed, the shaft extending through both coils with the permanent magnet disposed therebetween, and the coils energized so that one repels the permanent magnet while the other attracts it, and the shaft may be driven reversibly to do useful work.

63267071, Dec 4, 2001

May 8, 2000

9/566446

Mark A. Gummin - St. Helena CA
William Donakowski - El Sobrante CA

H02K 4100

310 12

A linear actuator includes a plurality of sub-modules disposed in adjacent array and adapted to translate reciprocally parallel to a common axis. A plurality of shape memory alloy wires extend generally linearly and parallel to the axis, and are each connected from one end of a sub-module to the opposed end of an adjacent sub-module. The SMA wires are connected in a circuit for ohmic heating that contracts the SMA wires between the sub-modules. The sub-modules are linked by the SMA wires in a serial mechanical connection that combines the constriction stroke displacement of the SMA wires in additive fashion to achieve a long output stroke. Moreover, the sub-modules are assembled in a small volume, resulting in an actuator of minimal size and maximum stroke displacement. The sub-modules may be rods or bars disposed in closely spaced adjacent relationship, or concentric motive elements, with the serial mechanical connection extending from each motive element to the radially inwardly adjacent motive element, whereby the innermost motive element receives the sum of the translational excursions of all the motive elements concentric to the innermost element. The SMA linear actuator includes a restoring spring assembly having a restoring force that decreases with increasing displacement to minimize residual strain in the SMA components.