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US 9,945,458 B2Granted
Actuator using expansion or contraction to produce linear or rotary motion
AssigneeGenesis Robotics LLP
InventorJames Brent Klassen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motion producing device comprising an output member with a contact surface and a reference member. An actuator member is attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and comprising actuator zones, each actuator zone being energizable to move a corresponding portion of the traction surface to change a contact state of the traction surface with the contact surface depending on an energized state of the actuator zone. An energy source is operatively coupled to the actuator zones for sequentially changing the energized state of the actuator zones. The actuator member provides a torque transmission path between the reference member and the output member.
Claims36
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface;
- a reference member;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and comprising actuator zones, each actuator zone being energizable to move a corresponding portion of the traction surface to change a contact state of the traction surface with the contact surface depending on an energized state of the actuator zone;
- and
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator zones for sequentially changing the energized state of the actuator zones;
- the actuator member providing a torque transmission path between the reference member and the output member;
- and
- the traction surface being preloaded under compression between the output member and the actuator member.
5 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface and an axis;
- a reference member concentric to the axis;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and comprising actuator zones, each actuator zone being energizable to move a corresponding portion of the traction surface to change a contact state of the traction surface with the contact surface depending on an energized state of the actuator zone;
- the actuator zones being spaced circumferentially around the reference member;
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator zones for sequentially changing the energized state of the actuator zones;
- the actuator member providing a torque transmission path between the reference member and the output member;
- and
- reinforcement flexures within and disposed around the actuator member, the reinforcement flexures extending radially outward and being slanted circumferentially through the actuator member.
5 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface and an axis;
- a reference member concentric to the axis;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and comprising actuator zones, each actuator zone being energizable to move a corresponding portion of the traction surface to change a contact state of the traction surface with the contact surface depending on an energized state of the actuator zone;
- the actuator zones being spaced circumferentially around the reference member;
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator zones for sequentially changing the energized state of the actuator zones;
- the actuator member providing a torque transmission path between the reference member and the output member;
- and
- the actuator member comprising a first actuator segment and a second actuator segment that are spaced apart axially.
5 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface;
- a reference member;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and comprising actuator zones, each actuator zone being energizable to move a corresponding portion of the traction surface to change a contact state of the traction surface with the contact surface depending on an energized state of the actuator zone;
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator zones for sequentially changing the energized state of the actuator zones;
- the actuator member providing a torque transmission path between the reference member and the output member;
- and
- each of the reference member, actuator member and output member being linear.
4 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface;
- a reference member;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and comprising actuator zones, each actuator zone being energizable to move a corresponding portion of the traction surface to change a contact state of the traction surface with the contact surface depending on an energized state of the actuator zone;
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator zones for sequentially changing the energized state of the actuator zones;
- the actuator member providing a torque transmission path between the reference member and the output member;
- and
- each actuator zone having an axis and further comprising confining members at respective axial ends of the respective actuator zone.
4 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface;
- a reference member;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and being made at least partially of an expandable or contractable material that is expandable or contractable when energized;
- the expandable or contractable material being preloaded under compression between the output member and the actuator member;
- the contact surface of the output member being in continuous contact with the traction surface of the actuator member;
- and
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator member for sequential energization and actuation of spatially separated portions of the actuator member.
4 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface and an axis of rotation;
- a reference member concentric to the axis;
- an actuator member attached to the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and being made at least partially of an expandable or contractable material that is expandable or contractable when energized;
- the contact surface of the output member being in continuous contact with the traction surface of the actuator member;
- and
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator member for sequential energization and actuation of spatially separated portions of the actuator member;
- the spatially separated portions of the actuator member being spaced circumferentially;
- and
- the contact surface of the output member and the traction surface each having cooperating helical shapes to convert rotation of the output member into linear motion.
6 more elements
A motion producing device comprising:
- an output member with a contact surface and an axis of rotation;
- a reference member concentric about the axis;
- an actuator member attached around the reference member, the actuator member having a traction surface and being made at least in part of an expandable or contractable material that is expandable or contractable when energized to press the traction surface against the contact surface or retract the traction surface from the contact surface;
- the contact surface of the output member and the traction surface each having cooperating helical shapes to convert rotation of the output member into linear motion;
- and
- an energy source operatively coupled to the actuator member for sequential energization and actuation of circumferentially spaced portions of the actuator member.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.