Bistable actuator, actuator arrangement, method for actuation and use
AssigneeKarlsruher Institut für Technologie
InventorsBastian Rapp, Christiane Neumann, Elisabeth Wilhelm, Achim Voigt
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Abstract
A method for bistably actuating an actuator includes applying positive pressure in an actuator fluid supply that is fluidly connected to an actuator chamber by means of an actuator fluid supply connection, wherein a working positive pressure is generated in the actuator chamber, whereby an actuator element fluidly connected to the actuator chamber is brought from a resting position to an actuation position, pressure-tight sealing of the actuator fluid supply connection, so that the working positive pressure in the actuator chamber is maintained and the actuator element remains in the actuation position.
Claims20
A method for bistably actuating an actuator comprising the steps of:
- applying positive pressure in an actuator fluid supply (7) that is fluidly connected to an actuator chamber (11) by means of an actuator fluid supply connection (9), wherein a working positive pressure is generated in the actuator chamber (11), whereby an actuator element (13) fluidly connected to the actuator chamber (11) is brought from a resting position to an actuation position;
- and
- pressure-tight sealing of the actuator fluid supply connection (9), so that the working positive pressure in the actuator chamber (11) is maintained and the actuator element (13) remains in the actuation position, wherein, for both the resting position and the actuation position, the actuator element has a stable actuation state that does not require additional energy to maintain the actuator element in the associated position.
A bistable actuator, comprising:
- an actuator fluid supply (7) through which an actuator fluid (15) can be provided and which is fluidly connected to an actuator chamber (11) by means of an actuator fluid supply connection (9);
- at least one actuator element (13) fluidly connected to the actuator chamber (11), which can be brought from a resting position to an actuation position by application of positive pressure in the actuator chamber (11), wherein, for both the resting position and the actuation position, the at least one actuator element has a stable actuation state that does not require additional energy to maintain the at least one actuator element in the associated position;
- and
- a sealing device (19, 21;
- 21, 29a, 33) with which the actuator fluid supply connection (9) can be sealed in a pressure-tight manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.