POLYMER ACTUATOR DEVICE SYSTEM

• US 20130328441A1
• Filed: 06/06/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mitsumori, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,065,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/300
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/005 Electro-chemical actuators; Actuators having a material for absorbing or desorbing gas, e.g. a metal hydride; Actuators using the difference in osmotic pressure between fluids; Actuators with elements stretchable when contacted with liquid rich in ions, with UV light, with a salt solution
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 11/006 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions

Abstract

A polymer actuator device system includes: a polymer actuator which includes an electrolyte layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer provided to oppose each other with the electrolyte layer interposed therebetween in a thickness direction of the electrolyte layer, and deforms in response to a voltage between the first and second electrode layers; and a sealing member which coats an entirety of the polymer actuator to be enclosed therein. The sealing member has two layers of a resin layer and an inorganic layer, a thickness of the sealing member is 1 to 5 microns, and an outer side of the sealing member in the thickness direction has a wear preventing body.

Claims

1. A polymer actuator device system comprising:

a polymer actuator, which includes an electrolyte layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer provided to oppose each other with the electrolyte layer interposed therebetween in a thickness direction of the electrolyte layer, and wherein the polymer actuator deforms in response to a voltage between the first and second electrode layers; and

a sealing member, which coats an entirety of the polymer actuator to be enclosed therein,

wherein the sealing member has two layers of a resin layer and an inorganic layer,

a thickness of the sealing member is 1 to 5 microns, and

an outer side of the sealing member in the thickness direction has a wear preventing body.

2. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the wear preventing body is provided at at least any of a support part of the polymer actuator device system and an application part which is driven in the polymer actuator device system.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first terminal, which is electrically connected to the first electrode layer to apply the voltage thereto, and a second terminal, which is electrically connected to the second electrode layer to apply the voltage thereto; and

a structure interposed between the first and second terminals,

wherein portions of the first and second terminals and at least a portion of the structure are covered with the sealing member.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the sealing member has a bellows shape.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an absorber, which is provided between the polymer actuator and the sealing member and absorbs moisture.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein:

the absorber is a granular powder,

one side of the sealing member has an adhesive layer which causes the sealing member to adhere to the polymer actuator, and

the absorber is provided on a side of the sealing member of the adhesive layer.