Micro-scale and meso-scale hydraulically or pneumatically powered devices capable of rotational motion
First Claim
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1. A device capable of converting a flow of a fluid into rotational mechanical motion, comprising:
- a. a stator;
b. a rotor capable of rotational motion relative to the stator, wherein the rotational motion occurs about a rotational axis;
c. a plurality of bearing elements positioned between the rotor and stator to hold the rotor and the stator in desired relative positions;
d. an inlet in said stator for receiving a fluid and an outlet in said stator for removing fluid;
wherein at least a portion of the stator and the rotor are formed using a multi-layer, multi-material electrochemical fabrication process, andwherein at least one bearing element is located within a slot in the rotor and a slot in the stator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to micro-scale or meso-scale devices having hydraulic or pneumatic actuation mechanisms incorporating bearings elements (such as ball bearings, cylindrical bearings, interference bearings, or hydrostatic bearings. Devices of some embodiments are turbines. Some devices may function as medical devices. Other embodiments are directed to multi-layer, multi-material electrochemical fabrication methods for producing such devices.
18 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device capable of converting a flow of a fluid into rotational mechanical motion, comprising:
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a. a stator; b. a rotor capable of rotational motion relative to the stator, wherein the rotational motion occurs about a rotational axis; c. a plurality of bearing elements positioned between the rotor and stator to hold the rotor and the stator in desired relative positions; d. an inlet in said stator for receiving a fluid and an outlet in said stator for removing fluid; wherein at least a portion of the stator and the rotor are formed using a multi-layer, multi-material electrochemical fabrication process, and wherein at least one bearing element is located within a slot in the rotor and a slot in the stator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5)
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3. The device of claim wherein the slot in the rotor faces radially inward and the slot in the stator faces radially outward.
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6. A method for fabricating a rotary device, comprising:
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a. forming at least a portion of a stator and a rotor from a plurality of adhered layers of material wherein the stator comprises a stator bearing surface, wherein the rotor comprises a rotor bearing surface, and wherein the forming of each layer of material comprises, i. depositing at least a first material; ii. depositing at least a second material; and iii. planarizing the first and second materials to a common level; b. removing at least a portion of the first or second material after formation of the plurality of layers; c. supplying a plurality of bearing elements; d. inserting the bearing elements into an opening between the stator bearing surface and the rotor bearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for fabricating a rotary device, comprising:
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a. forming at least a portion of a stator, a rotor, and a plurality of bearing elements from a plurality of adhered layers of material wherein the stator comprises a stator bearing surface including a plurality of protrusions separated by indentations, wherein the rotor comprises a rotor bearing surface including a plurality of protrusions separated by indentations, and wherein the bearing elements comprise an outer surface including a plurality of protrusions separated by indentations, and wherein the forming of each layer of material comprises; i. depositing at least a first material; ii. depositing at least a second material; and iii. planarizing the first and second materials to a common level; b. removing least a portion of the first or second material after formation of the plurality of layers; and c. supplying a plurality of bearing elements, and wherein during formation, at least some protrusions on the stator bearing surface and on the rotor bearing surface align with indentations on the outer surface of the bearing elements and wherein at least some indentations on the rotor bearing surface and on the stator bearing surface align with protrusions on the outer surface of the bearing elements, such that gaps between the bearing elements and the rotor and stator surfaces on any given layer are larger than a minimum feature size but wherein on at least some adjacent layers, gaps are substantially less than the minimum feature size.
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Specification