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US 9,624,911 B1Granted
Fluidic solar actuator
AssigneeSunfolding, Inc.
InventorsSaul Griffith, Leila Madrone, Peter S. Lynn, Kevin Simon, James McBride
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar actuator comprises a top coupler, a bottom coupler, and a plurality of fluidic bellows actuators, wherein a fluidic bellows actuator of the plurality of fluidic bellows actuators moves the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler.
Claims32
A solar actuator array comprising:
- a first and second solar actuator including;
- a top coupler;
- a bottom coupler;
- and
- three or more stem-shaped fluidic bellows actuators capable of bending,
- wherein the fluidic bellows actuators move the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler,
- wherein the position of the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler is determined at least in part by
- a first pressure of a first fluid in a first bellows actuator of the three or more bellows actuators, the first fluid being introduced to the first bellows actuator from a shared fluid source;
- a second pressure of a second fluid in a second bellows actuator of the three or more bellows actuators the second fluid being introduced to the second bellows actuator from the shared fluid source, and
- a third pressure of a third fluid in a third bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators the third fluid being introduced to the third bellows actuator from the shared fluid source;
- a control array coupled to the shared fluid source and the first and second solar actuator;
- and
- a controller configured to control the position of the top couplers of the first and second solar actuators in order to match an angle of the sun by selectively introducing fluid from the shared fluid source into one or more of the fluidic bellows actuators via the control array.
10 more elements
A solar actuator, comprising:
- a top coupler;
- a bottom coupler;
- a first rhombus-shaped fluidic bellows actuator having a first outer side connected to the top coupler;
- and
- a second rhombus-shaped actuator having a first outer side connected to the top coupler and a second outer side connected to a second outer side of the first actuator, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator move the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler, and wherein the angular position of the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler is determined at least in part by a first pressure of a first fluid in the first actuator and a second pressure of a second fluid in the second actuator.
2 more elements
A solar actuator, comprising:
- an effector pivotally mounted to a triangular pivot;
- a first wedge-shaped chamber mounted to the effector and a first positioning surface of the pivot, wherein when inflated the first chamber increases in size and tilts the effector on the pivot about a first circular arc;
- a second wedge-shaped chamber mounted to the effector and a second positioning surface of the pivot, wherein when inflated the second chamber increases in size and tilts the effector on the pivot about a second circular arc;
- a third wedge-shaped chamber mounted to the effector and a third positioning surface of the pivot, wherein when inflated the third chamber increases in size and tilts the effector on the pivot about a third circular arc, wherein the position of the effector relative to the pivot is determined at least in part by a first pressure of a first fluid in the first chamber, a second pressure of a second fluid in the second chamber, and a third pressure of a third fluid in the third chamber.
1 more element
A method of operating a solar actuator array, comprising:
- manufacturing a solar actuator array comprising three or more stem-shaped fluidic bellows actuators capable of bending,
- wherein the fluidic bellows actuators allow moving a top coupler relative to a bottom coupler,
- wherein the position of the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler is changed based at least in part on a position of the sun with the change being generated at least in part by:
- a first pressure of a first fluid in a first fluidic bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators from a shared fluid source,
- a second pressure of a second fluid in a second fluidic bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators from the shared fluid source,
- a third pressure of a third fluid in a third fluidic bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators from the shared fluid source;
- a control array coupled to the shared fluid source and the first and second fluidic bellows actuators;
- and
- a controller configured to control the position of top couplers of the first and second fluidic bellows actuators in order to match an angle of the sun by selectively introducing fluid from the shared fluid source into one or more of the fluidic bellows actuators via the control array.
6 more elements
A method of operating a solar actuator array, comprising:
- causing three or more stem-shaped fluidic bellows actuators capable of bending to move a top coupler relative to a bottom coupler in response to the sun, comprising:
- providing a first pressure of a first fluid in a first fluidic bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators from a shared fluid source;
- providing a second pressure of a second fluid in a second fluidic bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators from the shared fluid source;
- and
- providing a third pressure of a third fluid in a third fluidic bellows actuator of the three or more fluidic bellows actuators from the shared fluid source,
- wherein the position of the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler is determined at least in part by the first pressure, the second pressure, and the third pressure;
- wherein a control array is coupled to the shared fluid source and the first and second fluidic bellows actuators;
- and
- wherein a controller configured to control the position of top couplers of the first and second fluidic bellows actuators in order to match an angle of the sun by selectively introducing fluid from the shared fluid source into one or more of the fluidic bellows actuators via the control array.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.