Soft buckling actuators
US9850922B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF15B15/103
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A soft actuator is described, including: a rotation center having a center of mass; a plurality of bucklable, elastic structural components each comprising a wall defining an axis along its longest dimension, the wall connected to the rotation center in a way that the axis is offset from the center of mass in a predetermined direction; and a plurality of cells each disposed between two adjacent bucklable, elastic structural components and configured for connection with a fluid inflation or deflation source; wherein upon the deflation of the cell, the bucklable, elastic structural components are configured to buckle in the predetermined direction. A soft actuating device including a plurality of the soft actuators and methods of actuation using the soft actuator or soft actuating device disclosed herein are also described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.