Apparatus, system, and method for providing fabric-elastomer composites as pneumatic actuators
Abstract
Soft pneumatic actuators based on composites consisting of elastomers with embedded sheet or fiber structures (e.g., paper or fabric) that are flexible but not extensible are described. On pneumatic inflation, these actuators move anisotropically, based on the motions accessible by their composite structures. They are inexpensive, simple to fabricate, light in weight, and easy to actuate. This class of structure is versatile: the same principles of design lead to actuators that respond to pressurization with a wide range of motions (bending, extension, contraction, twisting, and others). Paper, when used to introduce anisotropy into elastomers, can be readily folded into three-dimensional structures following the principles of origami; these folded structures increase the stiffness and anisotropy of the elastomeric actuators, while keeping them light in weight.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1404934
- Patent Number(s):
- 9,797,415
- Application Number:
- 14/467,758
- Assignee:
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-00ER45852
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2014 Aug 25
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 42 ENGINEERING
Citation Formats
Martinez, Ramses V., and Whitesides, George M. Apparatus, system, and method for providing fabric-elastomer composites as pneumatic actuators. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web.
Martinez, Ramses V., & Whitesides, George M. Apparatus, system, and method for providing fabric-elastomer composites as pneumatic actuators. United States.
Martinez, Ramses V., and Whitesides, George M. Wed .
"Apparatus, system, and method for providing fabric-elastomer composites as pneumatic actuators". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1404934.
@article{osti_1404934,
title = {Apparatus, system, and method for providing fabric-elastomer composites as pneumatic actuators},
author = {Martinez, Ramses V. and Whitesides, George M.},
abstractNote = {Soft pneumatic actuators based on composites consisting of elastomers with embedded sheet or fiber structures (e.g., paper or fabric) that are flexible but not extensible are described. On pneumatic inflation, these actuators move anisotropically, based on the motions accessible by their composite structures. They are inexpensive, simple to fabricate, light in weight, and easy to actuate. This class of structure is versatile: the same principles of design lead to actuators that respond to pressurization with a wide range of motions (bending, extension, contraction, twisting, and others). Paper, when used to introduce anisotropy into elastomers, can be readily folded into three-dimensional structures following the principles of origami; these folded structures increase the stiffness and anisotropy of the elastomeric actuators, while keeping them light in weight.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2017},
month = {10}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Ornamental Table with Illuminated Receptacle
patent, June 1659
- Wass, Yvonne; Wass, Ernest
- US Patent Document 2,891,139
Bendable actuator
patent, January 1992
- Sato, Teruyoshi; Negishi, Koichi
- US Patent Document 5,083,498
Multiple chambered lift bag
patent, April 1996
- Wright, Hancel; Metcalfe, Harry
- US Patent Document 5,506,012
Flexible hose apparatus
patent-application, August 2004
- Harris, Richard K.
- US Patent Application 10/370207; 20040161347
Actuator, Driving Device, Hand Device, and Conveyance Device
patent-application, July 2009
- Kudawara, Tatuwo; Shimizu, Mikio; Ichikawa, Yasunori
- US Patent Application 12/162577; 20090173223