Thermally-powered coiled polymer fiber tensile actuator system and method

US11149720B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Na Li · Beijing, CN
• Carter S. Haines · Sachse, US
• Marcio D. Lima · Richardson, US
• Monica Jung DeAndrade · Richardson, US
• Shaoli Fang · Richardson, US
• Jiyoung Oh · Richardson, US
• Mikhail Kozlov · Eatontown, US
• Dongseok Suh · Plano, US
• Ray H. Baughman · Morristown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 15, 2019
• Grant date: Oct 19, 2021
• Expiry date: Nov 15, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/2925
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber twist-inserted polymer fibers generate tensile actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize coiled polymer fibers and can be either neat or comprising a guest. In some embodiments, the coiled polymer fibers actuator can be incorporated into an article, such as a textile, braid, clothing, smart packaging, or a mechanical system, and the coiled polymer fiber in the coiled polymer fiber actuator can have a stroke amplification factor of 5 or greater.