Elastomer skins with embedded and unequally pre-loaded coated actuators
AssigneesToyota Motor Enginerring & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsUmesh N. Gandhi, Yuyang Song, Pawandeep Singh Matharu, Yonas Tadesse
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Abstract
An actuator described herein triggers twisting actuation of an elastomer skin. In one embodiment, an elastomer skin includes an elastomer substrate and a set of coated twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and resistance heating wire (TCPFLRHW) actuators embedded in the elastomer substrate. The coated TCPFLRHW actuators are unequally pre-loaded. A coating of the coated TCPFLRHW actuators includes a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles.
Claims20
An elastomer skin, comprising:
- an elastomer substrate;
- and
- a set of coated twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and resistance heating wire (TCPFLRHW) actuators embedded in the elastomer substrate:
- the TCPFLRHW actuators are unequally pre-loaded;
- and
- a coating of the coated TCPFLRHW actuators comprises a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles.
An elastomer skin, comprising:
- an elastomer substrate;
- and
- a set of coated twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and resistance heating wire (TCPFLRHW) actuators embedded in the elastomer substrate:
- the TCPFLRHW actuators are unequally pre-loaded;
- and
- a coating of the coated TCPFLRHW actuators comprises a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix.
An elastomer skin, comprising:
- an elastomer substrate;
- and
- a set of coated twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and resistance heating wire (TCPFLRHW) actuators embedded in the elastomer substrate:
- the TCPFLRHW actuators are unequally pre-loaded;
- and
- a coating of the coated TCPFLRHW actuators comprises a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix with a composition of between 5.0 wt. % and 15.0 wt. % carbon nanotubes, between 5.0 wt. % and 15.0 wt. % metal nanoparticles, between 30.0 wt. % and 50.0 wt. % mesoporous carbon nanoparticles, and between 30.0 wt. % and 50.0 wt. % polymer matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.