Electro fluidic actuator

An actuator for converting electrical signals into power pulses in a working fluid, comprising a sealed, fluid-tight enclosure, including:

• a housing having a plurality of openings therein, and
• a like plurality of lightweight, low inertia bellows having open end portions which adjoin the housing in intimate contact therewith and which are aligned respectively with the housing openings, opposite closed end portions having one side in contact with the working fluid, and intermediate side portions which are highly compliant to movement of the closed end portions relative to the opposite open end portions and adjoining housing, the plurality of bellows including first and second working bellows and a pressure equalizing bellows;
• electromechanical means, connected within the sealed enclosure between the housing and the closed end of each working bellows, for moving the closed end of each working bellows relative to the housing in accordance with the electrical signals to generate corresponding power pulses in the working fluid adjacent each working bellows, said electromechanical means comprising
• a movable shaft having one end connected to the closed end of the first bellows and an opposite end connected to the closed end of the second bellows,
• a coil for urging said shaft in a first direction, and
• a spring for urging said shaft in a second direction;
• and
• pressure equalizing means for equalizing pressure within the housing with pressure of the working fluid in contact with the pressure equalizing bellows, including
• an electrically non-conductive liquid which is disposed within and fills the sealed enclosure, and
• the pressure equalizing bellows, which serves as a freely movable interface between the non-conductive liquid within the housing and the working fluid in contact with the pressure equalizing bellows.