Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators
Abstract
Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators or synthetic muscles are described capable of undergoing substantial expansion and contraction when subjected to changing pH environments, temperature, or solvent. The actuators employ compliant containers for the gels and their solvents. The gels employed may be cylindrical electromechanical gel fibers such as polyacrylamide fibers or a mixture of poly vinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid arranged in a parallel aggregate and contained in an electrolytic solvent bath such as salt water. The invention includes smart, electrically activated devices exploiting this phenomenon. These devices are capable of being manipulated via active computer control as large displacement actuators for use in adaptive structure such as robots. 11 figures.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5436390
- Patent Number(s):
- 5250167
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-902322
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 22 Jun 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; ACTUATORS; MATERIALS; ROBOTS; CONTRACTION; POLYMERS; THERMAL EXPANSION; EXPANSION; 420200* - Engineering- Facilities, Equipment, & Techniques
Citation Formats
Adolf, D B, Shahinpoor, M, Segalman, D J, and Witkowski, W R. Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Adolf, D B, Shahinpoor, M, Segalman, D J, & Witkowski, W R. Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators. United States.
Adolf, D B, Shahinpoor, M, Segalman, D J, and Witkowski, W R. Tue .
"Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators". United States.
@article{osti_5436390,
title = {Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators},
author = {Adolf, D B and Shahinpoor, M and Segalman, D J and Witkowski, W R},
abstractNote = {Electrically controlled polymeric gel actuators or synthetic muscles are described capable of undergoing substantial expansion and contraction when subjected to changing pH environments, temperature, or solvent. The actuators employ compliant containers for the gels and their solvents. The gels employed may be cylindrical electromechanical gel fibers such as polyacrylamide fibers or a mixture of poly vinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid arranged in a parallel aggregate and contained in an electrolytic solvent bath such as salt water. The invention includes smart, electrically activated devices exploiting this phenomenon. These devices are capable of being manipulated via active computer control as large displacement actuators for use in adaptive structure such as robots. 11 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Tue Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}