Patent ID: 8604894

Claim:
A compact thermoelastic actuator for a waveguide, comprising: at least two identical force pieces produced in a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; and a securing piece produced in a second material different from the first material and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the at least two identical force pieces have a length that extends along a longitudinal axis between two ends, namely an external end and an internal end, wherein the at least two identical force pieces are mounted head-to-tail one beside the other parallel to the longitudinal axis and are linearly offset relative to one another, along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the securing piece has two ends, namely a top end and a bottom end, and a median region situated between the top end and the bottom end of the securing piece, the top end and the bottom end of the securing piece being respectively linked to the external end of each of the at least two identical force pieces and the internal end of each of the at least two identical force pieces being positioned under the median region of the securing piece.