EP0516175A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Twisting actuators
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-05-29
Abstract
Abstract This invention is for a single lamina twisting transducer made of an electrodeformable material. The twisting transducer has responsivity vectors which are curved or circular in nature so that when an electric field is applied the transducer will twist, exserting an angular force rather than a linear force as prior art transducers do. The twisting lamina can be stacked with a common electrode between them. The transducers can be used in actuators to provide angular forces in actuators. When combined in actuator stacks with linear transducers the actuator stack can be controlled in six degrees of freedom. Thus accurate moving and positioning of objects can be accomplished by use of such an actuator stack. Further since such an actuator stack is sensitive to accelerations in six degrees of freedom it can be used in making an accelerometer. Other uses for twisting actuators are for motors and rotational positioning of objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon Walter Culp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:58
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/10; H02N2/108; G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/09; H02N2/101; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; H04R17/04; H04R17/08; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/20; H10N30/202; H10N30/2023; H10N30/208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A transducer comprising, one lamina of electrodeformable material having responsivity vectors, an output surface and a stationary surface, and connections receptive of electric power attached to the lamina, wherein power is transduced by said vectors to forcible rotation of said output surface and the converse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A transducer comprising, one lamina of electrodeformable material having responsivity vectors, an output surface and a stationary surface, and connections receptive of electric power attached to the lamina, wherein power is transduced by said vectors to forcible rotation of said output surface and the converse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are distributed such that the responsive surface rotates without distortion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed about a point, the responsivity magnitude varying as a function of the radial distance from said point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed about an axis, the responsivity magnitude varying as a function of the radial distance from said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed about a point, the responsivity magnitude being constant as a function of the radial distance from said point and the electric influence varying as a function of the radial distance from said point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed about an axis, the responsivity magnitude being constant as a function of the radial distance from said axis and the electric influence varying as a function of the radial distance from said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed about a point, the responsivity magnitude varying as a function of the radial distance from said point and the electric influence varying as a function of the radial distance from said point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed about an axis, the responsivity magnitude varying as a function of the radial distance from said axis and the electric influence varying as a function of the radial distance from said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the responsivity vectors are curvedly distributed about an axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the connection receptive to electric power is an electrode placed on the output surface and on the stationary surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A transducer as in claim 10 wherein two lamina are stacked having a common electrode between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the lamina are sections of a cylinder, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about the axis of the cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein the lamina are sections of a cylinder, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about the axis of the cylinder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the lamina are sections of a sphere, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about the center of the sphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein the lamina are sections of a sphere, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about the center of the sphere.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is perpendicular to the surface and through the center of the lamina.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is perpendicular to the surface and through the center of the lamina.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is perpendicular to the surface, said axis being a distance from the body of the lamina.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is perpendicular to the surface, said axis being a distance from the body of the lamina.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is parallel to the surface, said axis being a distance from the body of the lamina and said responsivity vectors causing said lamina to teeter about an axis on one suface of the lamina.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein the laminae have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is parallel to the surface said axis being a distance from the body of the lamina and said responsivity vectors causing said lamina to teeter about an axis on one suface of each lamina.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is parallel to the surface, said axis being a distance from the body of the lamina.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein the lamina have a flat output surface and stationary surface, the responsivity vectors are annularly distributed on a radius about an axis which is parallel to the surface said axis being a distance from the body of the lamina.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter and a twister.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter and a twister.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter and a torsier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter and a torsier.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter, a tangenter and a teeter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter, a tangenter and a teeter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter, at least two tangenters each acting perpendicular to the other, a twister and at least two teeters acting perpendicular to each other, so that an actuator can move and position an object with six degrees of freedom.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a lifter, at least two tangenters each acting perpendicular to the other, a twister and at least two teeters acting perpendicular to each other, so that an actuator can move and position an object with six degrees of freedom.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a twister and at least two tangenters acting perpendicular to each other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a twister and at least two tangenters acting perpendicular to each other.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a linear translation lamina and a rotational translation lamina.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
An actuator comprising a stack having a linear translation lamina and a rotational translation lamina.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
76 words
A motor comprising a disk with a hub shaft, an actuator having a lifter and a torsier, a housing for supporting the actuator wherein said actuators are disposed adjacent to said disk at a radius from the shaft, whereby the torsier acts at a radius matched to the radius the actuator is positioned from the shaft, whereby said actuator engages the disk and provides an angular force to said disk, a controller to activate the actuator.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
76 words
A motor comprising a disk with a hub shaft, an actuator having a lifter and a torsier, a housing for supporting the actuator wherein said actuators are disposed adjacent to said disk at a radius from the shaft, whereby the torsier acts at a radius matched to the radius the actuator is positioned from the shaft, whereby said actuator engages the disk and provides an angular force to said disk, a controller to activate the actuator.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A motor as in claim 30 wherein the actuator employs walking motion to engage the disk.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
A motor as in claim 31 wherein the actuator employs smooth walking motion.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
79 words
An object positioner comprising at least three actuators, each actuator having a stack with a lifter, at least two tangenters, all three acting perpendicular to each other, a twister and at least two teeters all three acting perpendicular to each other, said actuators supported by a housing and positioned adjacent to an object which is to be moved or positioned, each actuator can move and position an object with six degrees of freedom, a controller to activate the actuators.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
79 words
An object positioner comprising at least three actuators, each actuator having a stack with a lifter, at least two tangenters, all three acting perpendicular to each other, a twister and at least two teeters all three acting perpendicular to each other, said actuators supported by a housing and positioned adjacent to an object which is to be moved or positioned, each actuator can move and position an object with six degrees of freedom, a controller to activate the actuators.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
A motor as in claim 33 wherein the actuator employs walking motion to engage the disk.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
A motor as in claim 34 wherein the actuator employs smooth walking motion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor as in claim 33 wherein there are position sensors in each lamina of the actuator which send position information to the controller.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor as in claim 30 wherein there are position sensors in each lamina of the actuator which send position information to the controller.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
136 words
An accelerometer comprising an actuator stack having a lifter and at least two tangenters all three acting perpendicular to each other, a twister and at least two teeters all three acting perpendicular to each other, a support to which the actuator stack is attached, at least six position sensors to detect any linear or angular motion of the stack and send a signal indicating said motion to a computer, the computer sends a signal to the laminae in the actuator stack to place the actuator stack back in its rest position, the current needed to return each lamina of the stack to its at rest position is a measure of the acceleration force on that lamina, the computer collects the data on the currents sent to each lamina of the stack and calculates the acceleration force.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
136 words
An accelerometer comprising an actuator stack having a lifter and at least two tangenters all three acting perpendicular to each other, a twister and at least two teeters all three acting perpendicular to each other, a support to which the actuator stack is attached, at least six position sensors to detect any linear or angular motion of the stack and send a signal indicating said motion to a computer, the computer sends a signal to the laminae in the actuator stack to place the actuator stack back in its rest position, the current needed to return each lamina of the stack to its at rest position is a measure of the acceleration force on that lamina, the computer collects the data on the currents sent to each lamina of the stack and calculates the acceleration force.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
An accelerometer as in claim 38 wherein the position sensors are quantum tunneling electrodes positioned in pairs adjacent to the stack.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
170 words
An accelerometer comprising an actuator stack having at least three linear acting transducer lamina each acting perpendicular to the other so that a combination of their movements can account for three linear degrees of freedom of motion, and at least three angularly acting transducer lamina each acting perpendicular to the other so that a combination of their movements can account for three angular degrees of fred- om of motion, a support to which the actuator stack is attached, at least six position sensors to detect any linear or angular motion of the stack and send a signal indicating said motion to a computer, the computer sends a signal to the laminae in the actuator stack to place the actuator stack back in its rest position, the current needed to return each lamina of the stack to its at rest position is a measure of the acceleration force on that lamina, the computer collects the data on the currents sent to each lamina of the stack and calculates the acceleration force.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
170 words
An accelerometer comprising an actuator stack having at least three linear acting transducer lamina each acting perpendicular to the other so that a combination of their movements can account for three linear degrees of freedom of motion, and at least three angularly acting transducer lamina each acting perpendicular to the other so that a combination of their movements can account for three angular degrees of fred- om of motion, a support to which the actuator stack is attached, at least six position sensors to detect any linear or angular motion of the stack and send a signal indicating said motion to a computer, the computer sends a signal to the laminae in the actuator stack to place the actuator stack back in its rest position, the current needed to return each lamina of the stack to its at rest position is a measure of the acceleration force on that lamina, the computer collects the data on the currents sent to each lamina of the stack and calculates the acceleration force.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
69 words
An accelerometer comprising a transducer having a lamina of electrodeformable material, and a position sensor where the lamina is kept stationary by the application of electrical power proportional to the accelerations experienced by said lamina, a computer to receive data from the position sensor and send the proper amount of current to the lamina and to collect and analysis the current data to calculate the acceleration on the lamina.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
69 words
An accelerometer comprising a transducer having a lamina of electrodeformable material, and a position sensor where the lamina is kept stationary by the application of electrical power proportional to the accelerations experienced by said lamina, a computer to receive data from the position sensor and send the proper amount of current to the lamina and to collect and analysis the current data to calculate the acceleration on the lamina.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
An accelerometer as in claim 41 wherein there is a lamina and position sensor for each acceleration force degree of freedom to be measured.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of measuring acceleration comprising the use of a transducer having a lamina of electrodeformable material which can be kept stationary by the application of electrical power, a position sensor responsive to the position of the lamina due to acceleration forces, measuring the current required to keep the lamina stationary and calculating the acceleration therefrom.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of measuring acceleration comprising the use of a transducer having a lamina of electrodeformable material which can be kept stationary by the application of electrical power, a position sensor responsive to the position of the lamina due to acceleration forces, measuring the current required to keep the lamina stationary and calculating the acceleration therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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