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Title: Microfabricated microengine for use as a mechanical drive and power source in the microdomain and fabrication process

Abstract

A microengine uses two synchronized linear actuators as a power source and converts oscillatory motion from the actuators into rotational motion via direct linkage connection to an output gear or wheel. The microengine provides output in the form of a continuously rotating output gear that is capable of delivering drive torque to a micromechanism. The microengine can be operated at varying speeds and its motion can be reversed. Linear actuators are synchronized in order to provide linear oscillatory motion to the linkage means in the X and Y directions according to a desired position, rotational direction and speed of said mechanical output means. The output gear has gear teeth on its outer perimeter for directly contacting a micromechanism requiring mechanical power. The gear is retained by a retaining means which allows said gear to rotate freely. The microengine is microfabricated of polysilicon on one wafer using surface micromachining batch fabrication.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870959
Patent Number(s):
5631514
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16H - GEARING
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02N - ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00789
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
microfabricated; microengine; mechanical; drive; power; source; microdomain; fabrication; process; synchronized; linear; actuators; converts; oscillatory; motion; rotational; via; direct; linkage; connection; output; gear; wheel; provides; form; continuously; rotating; capable; delivering; torque; micromechanism; operated; varying; speeds; reversed; provide; means; directions; according; desired; position; direction; speed; teeth; outer; perimeter; directly; contacting; requiring; retained; retaining; allows; rotate; freely; polysilicon; wafer; surface; micromachining; batch; rotational direction; output means; gear teeth; linear actuators; rotational motion; retaining means; linear actuator; linkage means; power source; fabrication process; output gear; outer perimeter; mechanical power; surface micromachining; varying speeds; provides output; oscillatory motion; micromachining batch; continuously rotating; desired position; batch fabrication; motion via; microfabricated microengine; via direct; synchronized linear; linkage connection; direct linkage; converts oscillatory; /310/74/

Citation Formats

Garcia, Ernest J, and Sniegowski, Jeffry J. Microfabricated microengine for use as a mechanical drive and power source in the microdomain and fabrication process. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Garcia, Ernest J, & Sniegowski, Jeffry J. Microfabricated microengine for use as a mechanical drive and power source in the microdomain and fabrication process. United States.
Garcia, Ernest J, and Sniegowski, Jeffry J. Wed . "Microfabricated microengine for use as a mechanical drive and power source in the microdomain and fabrication process". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870959.
@article{osti_870959,
title = {Microfabricated microengine for use as a mechanical drive and power source in the microdomain and fabrication process},
author = {Garcia, Ernest J and Sniegowski, Jeffry J},
abstractNote = {A microengine uses two synchronized linear actuators as a power source and converts oscillatory motion from the actuators into rotational motion via direct linkage connection to an output gear or wheel. The microengine provides output in the form of a continuously rotating output gear that is capable of delivering drive torque to a micromechanism. The microengine can be operated at varying speeds and its motion can be reversed. Linear actuators are synchronized in order to provide linear oscillatory motion to the linkage means in the X and Y directions according to a desired position, rotational direction and speed of said mechanical output means. The output gear has gear teeth on its outer perimeter for directly contacting a micromechanism requiring mechanical power. The gear is retained by a retaining means which allows said gear to rotate freely. The microengine is microfabricated of polysilicon on one wafer using surface micromachining batch fabrication.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1997},
month = {1}
}