SMART MATERIAL ACTUATOR
First Claim
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1. An actuator assembly comprising:
- a frame structure including a pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending crossheads and a pair of laterally spaced apart, axially extending side frame members connected between respective ends of the crossheads, the side frame members being laterally deflectable in opposite directions at mid-sections thereof in response to movement of the crossheads toward or away from one another;
a smart material device extending axially between the crossheads and operative upon expansion or contraction to move the crossheads away from or towards one another to cause lateral deflection of the mid-sections of the side frame members away from or towards one another and thereby vary the spacing between the mid-sections of the side frame members;
a support;
a constraint mechanism on the support which constrains movement of the mid-sections of the side frame members along respective paths but in opposite directions, each path having an axial component such that as the spacing between the side members is varied the frame structure will be caused to be rotated relative to the support; and
an output member rotatable with the frame structure for outputting the rotational motion of the frame structure relative to the support.
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Abstract
A smart material actuator wherein one or more smart material devices are constrained in a frame such that expansion or contraction of the frame effects movement of side frame members away from or towards one another. The side frame members are constrained such that such movement away from or towards one another effects rotational movement of the frame for outputting amplified movement at an output member that rotates with the frame.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An actuator assembly comprising:
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a frame structure including a pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending crossheads and a pair of laterally spaced apart, axially extending side frame members connected between respective ends of the crossheads, the side frame members being laterally deflectable in opposite directions at mid-sections thereof in response to movement of the crossheads toward or away from one another;
a smart material device extending axially between the crossheads and operative upon expansion or contraction to move the crossheads away from or towards one another to cause lateral deflection of the mid-sections of the side frame members away from or towards one another and thereby vary the spacing between the mid-sections of the side frame members;
a support;
a constraint mechanism on the support which constrains movement of the mid-sections of the side frame members along respective paths but in opposite directions, each path having an axial component such that as the spacing between the side members is varied the frame structure will be caused to be rotated relative to the support; and
an output member rotatable with the frame structure for outputting the rotational motion of the frame structure relative to the support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A smart material actuator comprising one or more smart material devices constrained in a frame such that expansion or contraction of the frame effects movement of side frame members away from or towards one another, wherein the side frame members are constrained such that such movement away from or towards one another effects rotational movement of the frame for outputting amplified movement at an output member that rotates with the frame.
Specification