System and methods for fabricating actuators and electrically actuated hydraulic solid materials
US11541642B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31504
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
With applications such as soft robotics being severely hindered by the lack of strong soft actuators, the invention provides a new soft-actuator material—Electrically Actuated Hydraulic Solid (EAHS) material—with a stress-density that outperforms any known electrically-actuatable material. One type of actuator is fabricated by making a closed cell that acts as highly paralyzed version of a standard paraffin actuator. Each cell exhibits microscopic expansion, which is summed to produce macroscopic motion. The closed cellular nature of the material allows the system to be cut and punctured and still operate. It can be produced in a lab or industrial scale, and can be formed using molding, 3D printing or cutting.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.