Hybrid actuation device
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsMichael P. Rowe, Ryohei Tsuruta, Shardul S. Panwar, Maduran Palaniswamy, Max P. Herzog, Paul A. Gilmore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate.
Claims20
A hybrid actuation device comprising:
- a first plate coupled to a second plate;
- a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate;
- and
- an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the artificial muscle comprises:
- a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region;
- a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing;
- and
- a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing, wherein the expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate.
A method of actuating a hybrid actuation device, the method comprising:
- actuating a shape memory alloy wire that is coupled to a first plate of a plate pair further comprising a second plate, thereby drawing the first plate and the second plate together, placing the hybrid actuation device in an actuated state, wherein an artificial muscle is positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the artificial muscle comprising:
- a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region;
- an electrode pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, each positioned in the electrode region of the housing;
- and
- a dielectric fluid is housed within the housing;
- and
- applying a voltage to the electrode pair, thereby electrostatically attracting the first electrode and the second electrode together to hold the hybrid actuation device in the actuated state.
A hybrid actuation device comprising:
- a first plate coupled to a second plate;
- at least one shape memory alloy wire coupled to provided at a first surface of the first plate and configured to draw the first plate and the second plate together to place the hybrid actuation device in an actuated state;
- and
- an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the artificial muscle comprises an electrode pair provided at a second surface of the first plate opposite the first surface of the first plate and configured to electrostatically attract and hold the hybrid actuation device in the actuated state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.