Electroactive polymer rotary motors
AssigneeSRI International
InventorsJon Heim, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Joseph Stephen Eckerle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be converted into rotation of a power shaft included in a motor. Repeated deflection of the polymer may then produce continuous rotation of the power shaft.
Claims53
A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
- a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
- and
- a crank comprising:
- a crank pin,
- a crank arm that transmits force between said crank pin and said power shaft, and
- a first transducer coupled to said crank pin, the first transducer comprising a first active area, which includes at least a first portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two first active area electrodes coupled to the first portion of the electroactive polymer and a support structure for securing and for directing a mechanical output derived from the electroactive polymer.
A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
- a power shaft configured to rotate about a fixed axis;
- and
- a crank comprising:
- a crank pin,
- a crank arm that transmits force between said crank pin and said power shaft, and
- a first transducer coupled to said crank pin, the first transducer comprising a first active area, which includes at least a first portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two first active area electrodes coupled to the first portion of the electroactive polymer and a support structure for securing and for directing a mechanical output of the electroactive polymer wherein the support structure secures a portion of the electroactive polymer with a first surface area at a first position of the first transducer and wherein the portion of the polymer is stretched from an initial surface area to the first surface area to improve the mechanical response of the first transducer when it deflects from the first position and wherein the support structure is for supplying a force to the stretched portion of the electroactive polymer that prevents the stretched portion of the electroactive polymer from returning from the first surface area to about its initial surface area.
A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising:
- a power shaft configured to rotate about a fixed axis;
- and
- a crank comprising:
- a crank pin,
- a crank arm that transmits force between said crank pin and said power shaft, and
- a first transducer coupled to said crank pin, the first transducer comprising a first active area, which includes at least a first portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two first active area electrodes coupled to the first portion of the electroactive polymer. and a support structure for securing and for directing a mechanical output of the electroactive polymer wherein elastic return of said electroactive polymer at least partially contributes to rotation of said power shaft.
A mechanical-electrical power conversion system comprising;
- a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
- and
- a crank comprising:
- a crank pin,
- a crank arm that transmits force between said crank pin and said power shaft, and
- a transducer coupled to said crank pin, the transducer comprising a first active area, which includes at least a first portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two first active area electrodes coupled to the first portion of the electroactive polymer, and a support structure for securing and for directing a mechanical output derived from the electroactive polymer wherein said power shaft includes a stall position that is maintained with substantially no electrical current to said first active area electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.