Electroactive polymer actuated motors
First Claim
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1. A drive system comprising:
- a rack and pinion drive interface, the pinion supported by a one-way clutch, an output shaft driven by the clutch, and a transducer comprising an electroactive polymer stretched into a concave or convex shape where at least a portion of the electroactive polymer is stretched in a perpendicular direction relative to a remainder of the electroactive portion to form the concave or convex shape, wherein the rack is positioned to be driven by said transducer in a reciprocal motion between engagement in a state where the rack and pinion mesh and disengagement in another state where the rack and the pinion do not mesh.
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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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A drive system comprising:
a rack and pinion drive interface, the pinion supported by a one-way clutch, an output shaft driven by the clutch, and a transducer comprising an electroactive polymer stretched into a concave or convex shape where at least a portion of the electroactive polymer is stretched in a perpendicular direction relative to a remainder of the electroactive portion to form the concave or convex shape, wherein the rack is positioned to be driven by said transducer in a reciprocal motion between engagement in a state where the rack and pinion mesh and disengagement in another state where the rack and the pinion do not mesh. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A motor comprising:
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at least one drive assembly comprising an electroactive polymer actuator set within a frame of an actuator, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer stretched into a concave or convex shape where at least a portion of the electroactive polymer is stretched in a perpendicular direction relative to a remainder of the electroactive portion to form the concave or convex shape, a rack and pinion assembly, the rack in operative communication with the actuator and the pinion in operative communication with a clutch, and a shaft in operative communication with the clutch and rotationally mounted across a walled frame stacked upon the actuator frame. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
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11. A motor comprising:
- at least one drive assembly comprising an electroactive polymer actuator having an axis of actuation, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer stretched into a concave or convex shape where at least a portion of the electroactive polymer is stretched in a perpendicular direction relative to a remainder of the electroactive portion to form the concave or convex shape,
a lead screw assembly in operative cooperation with the actuator; and at least one clutch adapted to deliver rotational output of the motor in one direction around the axis of drive assembly actuation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
- at least one drive assembly comprising an electroactive polymer actuator having an axis of actuation, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer stretched into a concave or convex shape where at least a portion of the electroactive polymer is stretched in a perpendicular direction relative to a remainder of the electroactive portion to form the concave or convex shape,
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16. A drive system comprising:
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a rack and pinion drive interface, the pinion supported by a one-way clutch, an output shaft driven by the clutch, and a transducer comprising an electroactive polymer stretched into a concave or convex shape, wherein the rack is positioned to be driven by said transducer in a reciprocal motion between engagement in a state where the rack and pinion mesh and disengagement in another state where the rack and the pinion do not mesh; and where the transducer comprises a frustum configuration and the rack is attached to a central, substantially rigid body portion of the transducer.
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Specification