Back to results
US 10,605,365 B1Granted
Fluidic actuator
AssigneeOther Lab, LLC
InventorsSaul Griffith, Leila Madrone, Peter S. Lynn, Kevin Simon, Kevin Albert, James McBride
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluidic actuator comprises a chamber. The chamber is provided using a mass manufacturing technique. The chamber is formed from a material that has a higher strength in at least two axes relative to at most one other axis. The chamber allows a volume change by localized bending of a chamber wall.
Claims27
A fluidic actuator, the fluidic actuator consisting of a single layer of elongated chambers, the single layer of elongated chambers consisting essentially of:
- an elongated first chamber that includes:
- a first cavity defined by the first chamber;
- a first chamber first-end and second-end having a first length extending therebetween from the first chamber first-end to the first chamber second end, and
- a first port disposed at the first chamber second-end configured for fluid to enter and exit the first cavity of the first chamber, and only the first cavity of the first chamber without additional ports for fluid to enter and exit the first cavity,
- wherein the elongated first chamber is configured to expand along the first length, which extends from the first chamber first-end to the first chamber second end, in response to increasing fluid pressure within the
- first chamber introduced via a first fluid input;
- an elongated second chamber that includes:
- a second cavity defined by the second chamber;
- a second chamber first-end and second-end having a second length extending therebetween from the second chamber first-end to the second chamber second end, and
- a second port disposed at the second chamber second-end configured for fluid to enter and exit the second cavity of the second chamber, and only the second cavity of the second chamber without additional ports for fluid to enter and exit the second cavity,
- wherein the elongated second chamber is configured to expand along the second length, which extends from the second chamber first end to the second chamber second end, in response to increasing fluid pressure within the second chamber introduced via a second fluid input that is separate from the first fluid input, and
- wherein the first chamber and second chamber are disposed in a spaced-apart parallel configuration;
- and
- wherein all chambers of the fluidic actuator are associated with a separate fluid input such that each of the chambers are independently inflatable via separate fluid inputs;
- a linkage coupled to the first chamber first-end and the second chamber first-end and coupling the first and second chamber;
- and
- a base, wherein the first chamber second-end and the second chamber second-end are coupled to the base;
- a pivot and an end effector directly connected to the linkage;
- wherein when a volume of the first chamber and the second chamber change in opposite direction, the pivot rotates and the end effector tilts;
- wherein when a pressure in the first and second chambers change in the same direction while maintaining constant pressure ratio, a stiffness of the actuator increases.
17 more elements
A fluidic actuator, the fluidic actuator consisting of a single assembly layer, the single assembly layer consisting essentially of:
- a single layer of elongated chambers consisting essentially of:
- an elongated first chamber that includes:
- a first cavity defined by the first chamber;
- a first chamber first-end and second-end having a first length extending therebetween from the first chamber first-end to the first chamber second end, and
- a first port disposed at the first chamber second-end configured for fluid to enter and exit the first cavity of the first chamber, and only the first cavity of the first chamber without additional ports for fluid to enter and exit the first cavity,
- wherein the elongated first chamber is configured to expand along the first length, which extends from the first chamber first-end to the first chamber second end, in response to increasing fluid pressure within the first chamber introduced via a first fluid input;
- an elongated second chamber that includes:
- a second cavity defined by the second chamber;
- a second chamber first-end and second-end having a second length extending therebetween from the second chamber first-end to the second chamber second end, and
- a second port disposed at the second chamber second-end configured for fluid to enter and exit the second cavity of the second chamber, and only the second cavity of the second chamber without additional ports for fluid to enter and exit the second cavity,
- wherein the elongated second chamber is configured to expand along the second length, which extends from the second chamber first end to the second chamber second end, in response to increasing fluid pressure within the second chamber introduced via a second fluid input that is separate from the first fluid input, and
- wherein the first chamber and second chamber are disposed in a spaced-apart parallel configuration;
- and
- wherein all chambers of the fluidic actuator are associated with a separate fluid input such that each of the chambers are independently inflatable via separate fluid inputs;
- a linkage coupled to the first chamber first-end and the second chamber first-end and coupling the first and second chamber;
- and
- a base, wherein the first chamber second-end and the second chamber second-end are coupled to the base;
- a pivot and an end effector directly connected to the linkage;
- wherein when a volume of the first chamber and the second chamber change in opposite direction, the pivot rotates and the end effector tilts;
- wherein when a pressure in the first and second chambers change in the same direction while maintaining constant pressure ratio, a stiffness of the actuator increases.
17 more elements
A fluidic actuator, the fluidic actuator consisting of a single layer of elongated chambers, the single layer of elongated chambers comprising:
- an elongated first chamber that includes:
- a first cavity defined by the first chamber;
- a first chamber first-end and second-end having a first length extending therebetween from the first chamber first-end to the first chamber second end, and
- a first port disposed at the first chamber second-end configured for fluid to enter and exit the first cavity of the first chamber, and only the first cavity of the first chamber without additional ports for fluid to enter and exit the first cavity,
- wherein the elongated first chamber is configured to expand along the first length, which extends from the first chamber first-end to the first chamber second end, in response to increasing fluid pressure within the
- first chamber introduced via a first fluid input;
- an elongated second chamber that includes:
- a second cavity defined by the second chamber;
- a second chamber first-end and second-end having a second length extending therebetween from the second chamber first-end to the second chamber second end, and
- a second port disposed at the second chamber second-end configured for fluid to enter and exit the second cavity of the second chamber, and only the second cavity of the second chamber without additional ports for fluid to enter and exit the second cavity,
- wherein the elongated second chamber is configured to expand along the second length, which extends from the second chamber first end to the second chamber second end, in response to increasing fluid pressure within the second chamber introduced via a second fluid input that is separate from the first fluid input, and
- wherein the first chamber and second chamber are disposed in a spaced-apart parallel configuration;
- and
- wherein all chambers of the fluidic actuator are associated with a separate fluid input such that each of the chambers are independently inflatable via separate fluid inputs;
- a linkage coupled to the first chamber first-end and the second chamber first-end and coupling the first and second chamber;
- and
- a base, wherein the first chamber second-end and the second chamber second-end are coupled to the base;
- a pivot and an end effector directly connected to the linkage;
- wherein when a volume of the first chamber and the second chamber change in opposite direction, the pivot rotates and the end effector tilts;
- wherein when a pressure in the first and second chambers change in the same direction while maintaining constant pressure ratio, a stiffness of the actuator increases.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.