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Title: Microelectromechanical reciprocating-tooth indexing apparatus

Abstract

An indexing apparatus is disclosed that can be used to rotate a gear or move a rack in a precise, controllable manner. The indexing apparatus, based on a reciprocating shuttle driven by one or more actuators, can be formed either as a micromachine, or as a millimachine. The reciprocating shuttle of the indexing apparatus can be driven by a thermal, electrostatic or electromagnetic actuator, with one or more wedge-shaped drive teeth of the shuttle being moveable to engage and slide against indexing teeth on the gear or rack, thereby moving the gear or rack. The indexing apparatus can be formed by either surface micromachining processes or LIGA processes, depending on the size of the apparatus that is to be formed.

Inventors:
 [1]
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  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872549
Patent Number(s):
5959376
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16H - GEARING
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02N - ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
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DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
microelectromechanical; reciprocating-tooth; indexing; apparatus; disclosed; rotate; gear; move; rack; precise; controllable; manner; based; reciprocating; shuttle; driven; actuators; formed; micromachine; millimachine; thermal; electrostatic; electromagnetic; actuator; wedge-shaped; drive; teeth; moveable; engage; slide; moving; surface; micromachining; processes; liga; depending; size; surface micromachining; machining process; indexing apparatus; micromachining process; micromachining processes; controllable manner; /310/74/

Citation Formats

Allen, James J. Microelectromechanical reciprocating-tooth indexing apparatus. United States: N. p., 1999. Web.
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Allen, James J. Microelectromechanical reciprocating-tooth indexing apparatus. United States.
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Allen, James J. Fri . "Microelectromechanical reciprocating-tooth indexing apparatus". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872549.
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@article{osti_872549,
title = {Microelectromechanical reciprocating-tooth indexing apparatus},
author = {Allen, James J},
abstractNote = {An indexing apparatus is disclosed that can be used to rotate a gear or move a rack in a precise, controllable manner. The indexing apparatus, based on a reciprocating shuttle driven by one or more actuators, can be formed either as a micromachine, or as a millimachine. The reciprocating shuttle of the indexing apparatus can be driven by a thermal, electrostatic or electromagnetic actuator, with one or more wedge-shaped drive teeth of the shuttle being moveable to engage and slide against indexing teeth on the gear or rack, thereby moving the gear or rack. The indexing apparatus can be formed by either surface micromachining processes or LIGA processes, depending on the size of the apparatus that is to be formed.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {1}
}
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Patent:
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Works referenced in this record:

Surface Micromachined Polysilicon Theraml Actuator Arrays and Applications
conference, June 1996

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