Multilayer electrolaminate braking system
AssigneeSRI International
InventorsPablo E. Garcia, Thomas P. Low, Harsha Prahlad, Daniel Aukes, Susan Kim, Roy D. Kornbluh
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Abstract
A multilayer electrolaminate structure includes a first electrolaminate layer and a second electrolaminate layer disposed adjacent the first electrolaminate layer. Each of the first and second electrolaminate layers is rotatable about a common axis independently of the other electrolaminate layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in a first state and clamps to the other electrolaminate layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in a second state.
Claims20
A multilayer electrolaminate structure comprising:
- a first electrolaminate layer;
- and
- a second electrolaminate layer disposed adjacent the first electrolaminate layer, each of the first and second electrolaminate layers being rotatable about a common axis independently of the other electrolaminate layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in a first state and clamping to the other electrolaminate layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in a second state.
A method of operating a multilayer electrolaminate structure comprised of a first electrolaminate layer disposed adjacent to a second electrolaminate layer, each layer being rotatable about a common axis independently of the other layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in a first state, the method comprising:
- rotating the first electrolaminate layer about the common axis independently of the second electrolaminate layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in the first state;
- and
- clamping the first electrolaminate layer to the second electrolaminate layer when the multilayer electrolaminate structure is in a second state.
An articulated member, comprising:
- a pivot pin defining an axis;
- a multilayer electrolaminate structure with first and second segments each coupled to the pivot pin for rotation about the axis independently of the other segment, the first segment comprising a first electrolaminate layer and the second segment comprising a second electrolaminate layer, the first electrolaminate layer being disposed adjacent to the second electrolaminate layer;
- and
- electrodes in electrical communication with the first and second segments, the first and second electrolaminate layers clamping to each other in response to a voltage applied to the electrodes and unlocking from each other in response to the applied voltage being removed from the electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.