Sheath-run artificial muscles and methods of use thereof
US12006598B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2020 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF03G7/0616
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Sheath-run artificial muscles (or SRAMs) are described in which the dimensional changes and/or modulus changes of a sheath on the surface of a twisted or coiled host yarn or fiber drives torsional and tensile actuation. The sheath-core artificial muscle includes a sheath on a coiled core yarn or fiber that has inserted twist, in which the sheath does not include a yarn, the coiled core yarn or fiber includes a core yarn or fiber, the sheath can change volume, modulus, or a combination thereof when actuated by an influence source to drive actuation, and the influence source is selected from a group consisting of absorption processes, desorption processes, changes in temperature, changes in external pressure, changes in a magnetic field, changes in an electric field, exposures to actinic radiation, electrochemical charge and discharge, chemical reactions, and combinations thereof. These sheath-run muscles can be used for diverse applications, such as robots, robotic devices, energy harvesters, muscles that enable electrical energy harvesting, comfort-adjusting textiles, comfort-adjusting clothing, bio-powered intelligent muscles that control the release of drugs, muscles for appropri…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.