Electroactive polymer actuated motors

• US 20070200453A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Materialscience AG (Covestro AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Materialscience AG (Covestro AG)
• Inventors: Heim, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,750,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/046 for conversion into rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/177 Rack and pinion adjusting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18088 Rack and pinion type

Abstract

Devices employing electroactive polymer actuators are disclosed. Acrylic dielectric material based actuators are optionally provided in which architectures are presented that allow for improved power output as compared with other known acrylic dielectric material based transducers. Such technology may be applied in motor-driven applications, lightweight flight applications and lighting applications among others.

Claims

1. A drive system comprising:

a rack and pinion drive interface, the pinion supported by a one-way clutch, and output shaft driven by the clutch, the rack positioned to be driven in a reciprocal motion between engagement and disengagement with the pinion.

2. The drive system of claim 1, further comprising an electroactive polymer transducer positioned to drive the rack.

3. The drive system of claim 2, wherein the transducer comprises a frustum configuration and the rack is attached to a central, substantially rigid body portion of the transducer.

4. The drive system of claim 1, further comprising another rack and pinion and clutch, the output shaft driven in opposite directions by each clutche.

5. The drive system of claim 4, further comprising two electroactive polymer transducers, each positioned to drive one rack.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the output shaft comprises a threaded valve stem and the system further comprises a valve body, the valve stem being manually adjustable when the rack and pinion are not engaged.

7. An electroactive polymer rotary motor comprising:

at least one drive assembly comprising an electroactive polymer actuator, a rack and a pinion in operative cooperation, the rack in operative communication with the actuator and a clutch, and

an output means, the output means in operative communication with the clutch.

8. The motor of claim 7, wherein the output means comprises a shaft and the clutch is a roller-clutch set upon the shaft.

9. The motor of claim 7, comprising two drive assemblies, one for actuation in a clockwise direction and one for actuation in a counter-clockwise direction.

10. The motor of claim 7, where in the actuator is a frustum-type device.

11. The motor of claim 7, wherein the actuator is acrylic elastomer based and adapted to cycle at between about 50 and about 200 Hz.

12. A motor system comprising:

at least one drive assembly comprising an electroactive polymer actuator having an axis of actuation;

an motion transfer mechanism in operative cooperation with the actuator and at least one clutch, and

an output means in operative communication with the at least one clutch and having an axis of rotation.

13. The motor system of claim 12, wherein the motion transfer mechanism comprises a rack and pinion assembly.

14. The motor system of claim 12, wherein the motion transfer mechanism comprises lead screw assembly.

15. The motor system of claim 12, wherein the axis of rotation is orthogonal to the axis of actuation.

16. The motor system of claim 12, wherein the axis of rotation is co-axial to the axis of actuation.