Patent ID: 6126371
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B64G,F16B,F16F,Y10S

Abstract:
A preload attenuation device comprising:an inverted first cup shaped member having a center portion with an aperture therethrough and further having a side wall;a second cup shaped member having a center portion with an aperture therethrough and a side wall, said side wall in slidable engagement with the inner wall of said side wall of said first cup forming a compartment therebetween;an insert mounted within said compartment made of a shape memory metal alloy having a first and second sides at least partially engaged with said center portions of said first and second cups, respectively; said insert having an aperture therethrough, said shape memory metal alloy selected from the group consisting of a one way shape memory alloys that under go a deformation in a martensitic state that is definitively cancelled out during the passage to a austenitic state, or a trained two way shape memory metal alloys where a deformation undergone in the martensitic state is cancelled out during the passage into the austenitic state, but is reassumed during a subsequent passage to the martensitic state, or a trained two way memory alloy where additional deformation undergone using a bias force during the austenitic to martensitic state is cancelled out during the passage into the austenitic state, but is reassumed during a subsequent passage to the martensitic state minus the additional induced deformation; anda heating element mounted within said compartment; anda flexible compound encapsulating said at least one heating element.