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US 9,394,896 B2Granted
Pressure sensing apparatus including a plurality of electroactive polymer strips
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsJason T. Dunn, Mario A. Calvo, Andrew Brenner, Kenji A. Kingsford
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Abstract
One or more electroactive polymer (EAP) strips are circumferentially or lengthwise embedded or mounted around the fluid passage member. The EAP strips change electrical characteristics (e.g., capacitance, resistance) independent of an applied actuation as they are stretched, so they may be used to measure fluid pressure and/or fluid flow rate.
Claims11
A sensor for measuring fluid pressure in a fluid passage member, the sensor comprising:
- a fluid passage member;
- a plurality of electroactive polymer strips spaced apart and circumferentially mounted across at least a portion of the fluid passage member, wherein each of the electroactive polymer strips output an output signal based on an amount of fluid pressure detected in the fluid passage member, and
- a controller coupled to the plurality of electroactive polymer strips, wherein the controller is configured to selectively supply a substantially constant electric charge to one or more of the plurality of electroactive polymer strips for a prescribed period of time to provide a pumping action and the controller is further configured to measure an output signal of the selected electroactive polymer strip to determine an output pressure due to deformation in the fluid passage member over at least a portion of the prescribed time.
A method for sensing fluid pressure in a fluid passage member, the method comprising:
- receiving a fluid from a fluid source at a fluid inlet port of a fluid passage member, wherein the fluid passage member includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and the fluid passage member includes a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port;
- selectively supplying a substantially constant electric charge to at least one of a plurality of electroactive polymer strips for a prescribed period of time to provide a pumping action, the plurality of electroactive polymer strips spaced apart and circumferentially mounted across at least a portion of the fluid passage member,
- receiving one or more output signals from the plurality of electroactive polymer strips, wherein each of the electroactive polymer strips output an output signal based on an amount of fluid pressure detected in the fluid passage member due to deformation in the fluid passage member at a location where the electroactive polymer strip is coupled to the fluid passage member;
- and
- processing the one or more output signals to determine a fluid pressure that corresponds to the fluid flowing through the fluid passage member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.