Electroactive polymer devices for moving fluid
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- an inlet fluid line;
a valve housing including an inlet connected to the inlet fluid line, an outlet, and a fluid volume to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet;
an outlet fluid line connected to the outlet;
a first piece of electroactive material connected to the valve housing; and
circuitry electrically connected to the first piece of electroactive material to apply a first voltage across the first piece of electroactive material to cause the first piece of electroactive material to have a first shape that does not substantially restrict fluid flow through the fluid volume of the valve housing, and to apply a second voltage across the first piece of electroactive material to cause the first piece of electroactive material to have a second shape, the second shape that at least partially restricts the flow of fluid from the inlet through the fluid volume to the outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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an inlet fluid line;
a valve housing including an inlet connected to the inlet fluid line, an outlet, and a fluid volume to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet;
an outlet fluid line connected to the outlet;
a first piece of electroactive material connected to the valve housing; and
circuitry electrically connected to the first piece of electroactive material to apply a first voltage across the first piece of electroactive material to cause the first piece of electroactive material to have a first shape that does not substantially restrict fluid flow through the fluid volume of the valve housing, and to apply a second voltage across the first piece of electroactive material to cause the first piece of electroactive material to have a second shape, the second shape that at least partially restricts the flow of fluid from the inlet through the fluid volume to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A device, comprising:
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an inlet fluid line;
a valve housing including an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid volume to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet;
an outlet fluid line connected to the outlet;
a first piece of electroactive material connected to the valve housing, wherein the valve housing and the first piece of electroactive material comprise a first valve;
circuitry electrically connected to the first piece of electroactive material to apply a first voltage across the first piece of electroactive material to cause the first piece of electroactive material to have a first shape that does not substantially restrict fluid flow through the fluid volume of the valve housing, and to apply a second voltage across the first piece of electroactive material to cause the first piece of electroactive material to have a second shape, the second shape that at least partially restricts the flow of fluid from the inlet through the fluid volume to the outlet;
a pump having an electroactive material, a pump inlet, and a pump outlet the pump inlet connected to the outlet fluid line of the first valve;
a second valve having a second piece of electroactive material and connected to the pump outlet;
a cooling device connected to the second valve to receive fluid pumped by the pump, the fluid received being heated when within the cooling device;
a heat source connected to the cooling device to transfer heat from the heat source to the cooling device;
a heat exchange area connected to the cooling device to receive the heated fluid from the cooling device and to transfer heat to an environment around the heat exchange area; and
wherein the circuitry is also electrically connected to the pump and the second valve to apply voltages to the pump and the first and second valve, the voltages timed to cause the first valve to be closed and the second valve to be open when the material within the pump expands and to cause the first valve to be open and the second valve to be closed with the material within the pump contracts. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device, comprising:
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a diaphragm pump to draw fluid in from a pump inlet and expel fluid out through a pump outlet;
a first valve including an electroactive material to allow fluid to flow into the diaphragm pump when the diaphragm pump draws fluid in from the pump inlet and to at least partially restrict fluid flow when the diaphragm pump expels fluid out through the pump outlet; and
a second valve including an electroactive material to allow fluid to flow from the diaphragm pump when the diaphragm pump expels fluid out through the pump outlet and to at least partially restrict fluid flow when the diaphragm pump draws fluid in from the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24)
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22. A method, comprising:
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applying a first voltage to a first piece of electroactive material in an inlet valve to cause the first piece of electroactive material to take a first shape that at least partially restricts fluid flow through the inlet valve;
applying a first signal to a pump with an inlet connected to the inlet valve to cause the pump to expel fluid from the pump, the first piece of electroactive material having the first shape during at least some of a time that the pump expels fluid from the pump;
applying a second voltage to a second piece of electroactive material in an outlet valve connected to an outlet of the pump to cause the second piece of electroactive material to take a second shape that does not substantially restrict fluid flow through the inlet valve, the second piece of electroactive material having the second shape during at least some of the time that the pump expels fluid from the pump;
applying a third voltage to the first piece of electroactive material in the inlet valve to cause the first piece of electroactive material to take a third shape that does not substantially restrict fluid flow through the inlet valve;
applying a second signal to the pump with an inlet connected to the inlet valve to cause the pump to draw in fluid to the pump, the first piece of electroactive material having the third shape during at least some of a time that the pump draws in fluid to the pump;
and applying a fourth voltage to the second piece of electroactive material in the outlet valve to cause the second piece of electroactive material to take a fourth shape that at least partially restricts fluid flow through the outlet valve, the second piece of electroactive material having the fourth shape during at least some of the time that the pump draws in fluid to the pump.
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Specification