Sliding tendons for high-strain elastomer actuators
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsNicholas R. Sholl, Kamran Mohseni
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Abstract
A soft structure fiber reinforcement and actuation technology is provided. In an example embodiment, the tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membrane comprises an elastomer matrix material and a fiber array embedded within the elastomer matrix material. The one or more tendons are not mechanically bonded to the elastomer matrix material, such that the one or more embedded tendons are able to move through the elastomer matrix material. One or more apparatuses may employ one or more such tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membranes for use in a variety of applications.
Claims26
A tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membrane comprising:
- an elastomer matrix material;
- and
- a fiber array embedded within the elastomer matrix material,
- wherein:
- the fiber array comprises one or more tendons;
- the one or more tendons are not mechanically bonded to the elastomer matrix material such that the one or more embedded tendons are able to move through the elastomer matrix material;
- the one or more tendons are configured to be pulled by one or more attachment points onto an innermost fixed fiber and allow for expansion to occur;
- and
- each of the one or more attachment points includes one or more knots formed by a tendon around one or more fixed fibers.
An inflatable apparatus comprising:
- a tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membrane, each of the one or more tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membranes comprising:
- an elastomer matrix material;
- and
- a fiber array embedded within the elastomer matrix material, wherein:
- the fiber array comprises one or more tendons;
- and
- the one or more tendons are not mechanically bonded to the elastomer matrix material such that the one or more embedded tendons are able to move through the elastomer matrix material;
- and
- the one or more tendons are configured to be pulled by one or more attachment points onto an innermost fixed fiber and allow for expansion to occur, and
- each of the one or more attachment points includes one or more knots formed by a tendon around one or more fixed fibers
- a rigid plate, wherein the rigid plate comprises one or more fluid ports;
- a clamp ring;
- and
- one or more securing components, wherein the one or more securing components secures the clamp ring to the rigid plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.