Patent ID: 8528597

Claim:
An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part; said actuator comprising: a shape memory wire, said wire contracting when heated, one portion of said shape memory wire fixed to a first body, another portion of said shape memory wire coupled to a second body, said second body movable relative to said first body, when heated said shape memory wire contracts and moves said second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to said first body toward a second position; a magnetic field, said magnetic field generating a magnetic force on said second body, said magnetic force acting on and moving said second body in said direction of travel to said second position after said shape memory wire initially contracts; and said magnetic force decoupling said second body from the force applied by said shape memory wire and moving said second body relative to said shape memory wire when applying said magnetic force to said second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to said second position.