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US 10,247,173 B2Granted
Elastic motor-spring actuator
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University
InventorsKiisa Nishikawa, Theodore A. Uyeno
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a fixed member and a free member. The free member is operatively engaged with the fixed member so that the free member is moveable with respect to the fixed member. The actuator also includes means for moving the free member with respect to the fixed member. An elastic element operatively associated with the free member and the fixed member is operable to store energy without a change in an overall length of the actuator.
Claims8
An actuator, comprising:
- a fixed member;
- a free member operatively engaged with said fixed member so that said free member is moveable with respect to said fixed member;
- an elastic element operatively associated with said free member and said fixed member, said elastic element comprising a thin, sheet-like member having a trapezoidal configuration so that said elastic element has a variable compliance;
- and
- means for moving said free member with respect to said fixed member, said actuator being operable to store energy in said elastic element without a change in an overall length of said actuator.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.