VARIABLE HARDNESS ACTUATOR

• US 20160276085A1
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: KONDO, Yu, MATSUKI, Kaoru
• Application Number:
  US15/171,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20160276085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00078 with stiffening means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/447 characterised by magnetoviscosity, e.g. magnetorheological, magnetothixotropic, magnetodilatant liquids electrorheological fluids C10M171/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/003 Methods and devices for magnetising permanent magnets permanent magnets H01F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325

Abstract

A variable hardness actuator includes a flexible tubular member; plural particles of magnetic powder filling the tubular member; a coil wound around an outer circumference of the tubular member, surrounding the magnetic powder; a drive unit configured to supply electric current to the coil; and a directing unit used to give a direction to the drive unit to supply the electric current, wherein the coil generates a magnetic field using the electric current supplied from the drive unit in response to the direction from the directing unit, causing the plural particles of magnetic powder to magnetize spontaneously, magnetically couple together, and harden.

Claims

1. A variable hardness actuator comprising:

a tubular member having flexibility;

a plurality of magnetic bodies filling the tubular member;

a coil wound around an outer circumference of the tubular member, surrounding the magnetic bodies;

a drive unit configured to supply electric current to the coil; and

a directing unit used to give a direction to the drive unit to supply the electric current, wherein

the coil generates a magnetic field using the electric current supplied from the drive unit in response to the direction from the directing unit, causing the plurality of magnetic bodies to magnetize spontaneously, magnetically couple together, and harden.

2. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 1, wherein:

the drive unit is able to control an amount of the electric current supplied;

the directing unit allows the amount of the electric current supplied by the drive unit to be specified; and

hardness of the plurality of magnetic bodies is adjustable by controlling the amount of the electric current supplied to the coil.

3. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic bodies and the coil are placed in part of the tubular member in an axial direction.

4. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic bodies are magnetic powder.

5. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic bodies are bendable magnetic wire rods placed along an axial direction of the tubular member.

6. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic bodies are columnar magnetic bodies having an outside diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the tubular member, and a plurality of the columnar magnetic bodies are arranged in a line, with a central axis of the columnar magnetic bodies being placed along an axial direction of the tubular member.

7. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic bodies are spherical magnetic bodies having a diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the tubular member, and a plurality of the spherical magnetic bodies are arranged in a line along an axial direction of the tubular member.

8. The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of magnetic bodies are a plurality of fine magnetic particles dispersed in a fluid making up a viscous magnetic fluid filling the tubular member.