Fuel-powered actuators and methods of using same

US8096119B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

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

Inventors

• Ray H. Baughman · Morristown, US
• Von Howard Ebron · Republic, US
• Zhiwei Yang · Laishui, CN
• Daniel James Seyer · Ballwin, US
• Mikhail Kozlov · Eatontown, US
• Jiyoung Oh · Richardson, US
• Hui Xie · Richardson, US
• Joselito Razal · Wollongong, AU
• John P. Ferraris · Dallas, US
• Alan G. MacDiarmid · Drexel Hill, US
• William Alexander Macaulay · McKinney, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 2, 2007
• Grant date: Jan 17, 2012
• Expiry date: Sep 16, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F03G7/012
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Fuel-powered actuators are described wherein actuation is a consequence of electrochemical processes, chemical processes, or combinations thereof. These fuel-powered actuators include artificial muscles and actuators in which actuation is non-mechanical. The actuators range from large actuators to microscopic and nanoscale devices.