Tubular fluidic actuator system and method

US11502639B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SUNFOLDING, INC. · US

Inventors

• Kyle Douglass Betts · San Francisco, US
• Saul Griffith · San Francisco, US
• Jeffrey Charles Lamb · San Francisco, US
• Peter Sturt Lynn · Oakland, US
• Leila Madrone · San Francisco, US
• Matthew N. Schneider · Sierra Madre, US
• Kevin Simon · Somerville, US
• Louis Hong Basel · Berkeley, US
• Victoria Macomber · San Francisco, US
• Dan Goldwater · Berkeley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 28, 2019
• Grant date: Nov 15, 2022
• Expiry date: Nov 23, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An actuator comprising a bottom plate, a top-plate and one or more hub assembly extending between and rotatably coupling the bottom and top plates. The actuator also includes one or more bellows units disposed between the top plate and bottom plate, the one or more bellows units comprising a first and second inflatable bellows coupled by a web extending between the first and second bellows, the first and second bellows defining respective and separate first and second bellows cavities, with the first bellows of the bellows units disposed on a first side of the bottom plate, and the second bellows of the bellows units disposed on a second side of the bottom plate, opposing the first side, and between the top and bottom plates.