# US 12,006,956 B2 · Actuator device and stopping and unlocking method

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- Number: US 12,006,956 B2
- Document ID: US12006956B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/761,556
- Filed: 2018-11-14
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-27
- Assignees: MetisMotion GmbH
- Applicants: Metismotion GmbH
- Inventors: Georg Bachmaier; Patrick Froese; Matthias Gerlich; Wolfgang Zoels
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006956B2

## CPC

- F15B 7/00: Systems in which the movement produced is definitely related to the output of a volumetric pump; Telemotors
- F15B 7/08: Input units; Master units
- F15B 21/06: Use of special fluids, e.g. liquid metal; Special adaptations of fluid-pressure systems, or control of elements therefor, to the use of such fluids
- H02N 2/043: {Mechanical transmission means, e.g. for stroke amplification}
- H10N 30/20: with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators
- H10N 30/50: having a stacked or multilayer structure
- H10N 35/00: Magnetostrictive devices (integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00)
- F15B 2211/885: Control specific to the type of fluid, e.g. specific to magnetorheological fluid
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator device comprising at least one solid-state actuator and a hydraulic unit connected mechanically to the solid-state actuator in series, wherein said hydraulic unit comprises a hydraulic volume which is filled with a hydraulic fluid. In the method of clamping a clamping body, an actuator device of this type is used and the solid-state actuator of the actuator device is controlled, in particular, depending on a movement variable of the clamping body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An actuator device comprising:
a solid-state actuator;
and a hydraulic unit mechanically connected in series with the solid-state actuator;
wherein the hydraulic unit has a hydraulic volume, which is filled with a hydraulic fluid;
wherein the hydraulic unit comprises at least one drive chamber, an output chamber, and a hydraulic line connecting the at least one drive chamber and the output chamber;
wherein the hydraulic unit comprises at least one drive element partially bounding the at least one drive chamber, the at least one drive element being movable by the solid-state actuator, wherein by moving the at least one drive element, a flow of the hydraulic fluid between the at least one drive chamber and the output chamber can be effected;
wherein the solid-state actuator is a magnetostrictive actuator, an electrostrictive actuator, a piezo actuator, or a shape memory actuator;
wherein the hydraulic fluid is or comprises a eutectic alloy that is liquid at normal pressure at a temperature of 0° C.;
wherein the actuator device is formed for arresting in the form of clamping and comprises an arrested body which can be arrested by the hydraulic unit, wherein the arrested body is clampable by the hydraulic unit;
wherein the actuator device comprises at least one clamping surface formed for frictional engagement with the arrested body formed as a clamped body;
wherein the actuator device is formed to circumferentially clamp the clamped body;
wherein the at least one drive element separates two volumes that are filled with hydraulic fluid and that are connected to one another by a leakage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a spring element, which is arranged and formed for force application on the arrested body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic unit is formed to transmit a movement originating from the solid-state actuator to an element to be moved with a transmission ratio unequal to one.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic unit further comprises a storage chamber for the hydraulic fluid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The actuator device according to claim 4, wherein the storage chamber is pressurized, wherein the pressurized storage chamber is formed and hydraulically connected for pressurizing the output chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein a control device is present, which is configured to control the solid-state actuator depending on a movement variable of the arrested body and/or a force application on the arrested body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the eutectic alloy comprises gallium.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the eutectic alloy comprises indium.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The actuator device according to claim 1, wherein the eutectic alloy comprises tin.

### Claim 10

A method for operating an actuator device comprising:
providing an arrested body;
providing a solid-state actuator and a hydraulic unit mechanically connected in series with the solid-state actuator, wherein the hydraulic unit has a hydraulic volume, which is filled with a hydraulic fluid;
controlling the solid-state actuator depending on a movement and/or force variable of and/or force application on the arrested body;
wherein the hydraulic unit comprises at least one drive chamber, an output chamber, and a hydraulic line connecting the at least one drive chamber and the output chamber;
wherein the hydraulic unit comprises at least one drive element partially bounding the at least one drive chamber, the at least one drive element being movable by the solid-state actuator, wherein by moving the at least one drive element, a flow of the hydraulic fluid between the at least one drive chamber and the output chamber can be effected;
wherein the solid-state actuator is a magnetostrictive actuator, an electrostrictive actuator, a piezo actuator, or a shape memory actuator;
wherein the hydraulic fluid is or comprises a eutectic alloy that is liquid at normal pressure at a temperature of 0° C.;
wherein the actuator device is formed for arresting in the form of clamping and comprises an arrested body which can be arrested by the hydraulic unit, wherein the arrested body is clampable by the hydraulic unit;
wherein the actuator device comprises at least one clamping surface formed for frictional engagement with the arrested body formed as a clamped body;
wherein the actuator device is formed to circumferentially clamp the clamped body;
wherein the at least one drive element separates two volumes that are filled with hydraulic fluid and that are connected to one another by a leakage.
