Pressurizing housing for a soft robotic actuator
AssigneeSoft Robotics, Inc.
InventorJoshua Aaron Lessing
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Exemplary embodiments relate to pressurizable housings for a soft robotic actuator. The pressurized housings may be divided into an upper chamber in fluid communication with an internal void of the actuator, and a lower chamber connected to an inlet and an outlet. The upper chamber and lower chamber may be separated by a piston. By supplying a fluid to the lower chamber via the inlet, the piston is moved into the space previously occupied by the upper chamber, which reduces the volume of the upper chamber and increases the pressure in the internal void. This action allows the actuator to be rapidly inflated, and further simplifies the pressurization system and reduces its weight.
Claims18
A robotic end effector comprising:
- a soft robotic actuator comprising an elastomeric outer surface surrounding an internal void, wherein the soft robotic actuator is configured to curl when an inflation fluid is supplied to the internal void;
- a pressurizable housing divided into a first space and a second space, the first space being in fluid communication with the internal void, wherein a fixed amount of inflation fluid is present in the first space and a volume of the second space is manipulable to change a volume of the first space and thereby alter an internal pressure of the internal void;
- an inlet port for supplying a second space fluid to the second space;
- tubing connected to the inlet port, wherein a diameter of the tubing is less than 10 mm;
- and
- an outlet port for exhausting the second space fluid from the second space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.