ELASTOMER ACTUATOR AND A METHOD OF MAKING AN ACTUATOR
First Claim
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1. A method for fabricating an actuator comprising the steps of:
- providing an elastomeric body having a corrugated surface;
coating the corrugated surface of the elastomeric body with an electrode forming an element; and
combining a plurality of elements to form a sheet defining an actuator.
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Abstract
A tubular elastomer actuator with a shape in a cross-sectional view which shape exposes at most one single axis of symmetry of a specific length, e.g., an oval shape. The actuator could be made from a sheet made from a plurality of plate shaped elements which are laminated together and rolled. Each plate shaped element may have a corrugation that gives the element an anisotropic structure, and contains an electrode on only one surface. The actuator displacement is the result of shrinkage displacement of the plate shaped elements upon the application of electrical field across their thickness.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating an actuator comprising the steps of:
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providing an elastomeric body having a corrugated surface; coating the corrugated surface of the elastomeric body with an electrode forming an element; and combining a plurality of elements to form a sheet defining an actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of fabricating an actuator comprising the steps of:
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providing a body of elastomeric material having a first side and a second side; molding at least one side of the body to define a corrugated surface; coating the corrugated surface with an electrode; and forming a tubular actuator from the body and the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification