Electroactive polymer rotary clutch motors
First Claim
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1. A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
- a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
a transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least a portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two active area electrodes coupled to the portion of the electroactive polymer, wherein the electroactive polymer includes pre-strain; and
a clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said transducer and said power shaft, said clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of the power shaft to the transducer.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be converted into rotation of a power shaft included in a motor. Repeated deflection of the polymer may then produce continuous rotation of the power shaft.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
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a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
a transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least a portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two active area electrodes coupled to the portion of the electroactive polymer, wherein the electroactive polymer includes pre-strain; and
a clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said transducer and said power shaft, said clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of the power shaft to the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
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a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
a first transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least a portion of a first electroactive polymer and at least two active area electrodes coupled to the portion of the first electroactive polymer;
a first clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said first transducer and said power shaft, said first clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said first transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of said power shaft to said first transducer;
a second transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least a portion of a second electroactive polymer and at least two active area electrodes coupled to the portion of the second electroactive polymer; and
a second clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said second transducer and said power shaft, said second clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said second transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of said power shaft to said second transducer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
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a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
a transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least a portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two active area electrodes coupled to the portion of the electroactive polymer;
a first clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said transducer and said power shaft, said first clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of said power shaft to said transducer, said engagement of said first clutch producing rotation of said power shaft in a first direction about said axis for a first direction of deflection of said transducer; and
a second clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said transducer and said power shaft, said second clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of said power shaft to said transducer, said engagement of said second clutch producing rotation of said power shaft in said first direction about said axis for a second direction of deflection of said transducer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
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a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
a transducer comprising a first active area and a second active area, the first active area having at least two first active area electrodes and a first portion of the electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes the first portion to deflect in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two first active area electrodes, the second active area having at least two second active area electrodes and a second portion of the electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes the second portion to deflect in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two second active area electrodes; and
a clutch for transmitting mechanical energy between said transducer and said power shaft, said clutch operably coupled to said power shaft and said transducer in a manner allowing engagement and disengagement of the power shaft to the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification