초록 ▼

An apparatus and method of operating devices (such as devices in a wellbore or other types of devices) utilizes actuators having expandable or contractable elements. Such expandable or contractable elements may include piezoelectric elements, magnetostrictive elements, and heat-expandable elements.

An apparatus and method of operating devices (such as devices in a wellbore or other types of devices) utilizes actuators having expandable or contractable elements. Such expandable or contractable elements may include piezoelectric elements, magnetostrictive elements, and heat-expandable elements. Piezoelectric elements are expandable by application of an electrical voltage; magnetostrictive elements are expandable by application of a magnetic field (which may be generated by a solenoid in response to an electrical current); and heat-expandable elements are expandable by heat energy (e.g., infrared energy or microwave energy). Expandable elements are abutted to an operator member such that when the expandable element expands, the operator member is moved in a first direction, and when the expandable element contracts, the operator member moves in an opposite direction.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:a ratchet mechanism;an activable member responsive to input energy, the activable member including a material expandable by the input energy; andan operator mechanism actuatable by the ratchet mechanism in response to expan

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:a ratchet mechanism;an activable member responsive to input energy, the activable member including a material expandable by the input energy; andan operator mechanism actuatable by the ratchet mechanism in response to expansion of the material.