US5977685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polyurethane elastomer actuator
Assignee: Nitta Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-03
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2016-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A polyurethane elastomer actuator comprising a polyurethane elastomer 1 capable of deforming due to the orientation by an electric field, wherein the shrinkage displacement occurring at the time of the application of an electric field is transformed into other displacement. This polyurethane elastomer actuator does not require electrolyte and high voltage. Since it is not accompanied by chemical reactions and heat generation, its durability hardly deteriorates. This actuator deforms largely during driving.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasushi Kurita
- 👤 Tsutomu Ueda
- 👤 Toshiaki Kasazaki
- 👤 Toshihiro Hirai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:07
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G18/00; C08G18/06; C08G18/70; C08G18/72; C08G18/74; C08G18/76; C08G18/7657; C08G18/7678; C08G18/08; C08G18/10; C08G18/28; C08G18/40; C08G18/42; C08G18/4236; C08G18/4238; H; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; H04R17/005; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/20; H10N30/204; H10N30/2041; H10N30/2042; H10N30/206; H10N30/80; H10N30/85; H10N30/857; H04R17/04; H04R17/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S310/00; Y10S310/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator comprising: a sheet of an elastomeric material; said elastomeric material being of a type which is displaced when an electric field is applied thereto, and returns toward its original dimension when said electric field is removed; first and second electrodes on opposed sides of said sheet; at least one of said first and second electrodes having a property which converts displacement of said elastomeric material into one of a curvature of said sheet and an elongation of said sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator comprising: a sheet of an elastomeric material; said elastomeric material being of a type which is displaced when an electric field is applied thereto, and returns toward its original dimension when said electric field is removed; first and second electrodes on opposed sides of said sheet; at least one of said first and second electrodes having a property which converts displacement of said elastomeric material into one of a curvature of said sheet and an elongation of said sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 1, wherein said property includes a first thickness of said first electrode that is greater than a second thickness of said second electrode, whereby said first electrode restrains a lengthwise expansion of said actuator more than said second electrode, and thereby forces said sheet to curve toward said first electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic restitutive layer on at least one of said first electrode and said second electrode, said elastic restitutive layer being effective for restoring said sheet toward its original position when said electric field is removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 1, wherein said property includes at least one transverse element affixed at least to said first electrode, said transverse element being effective to change an ability of said first electrode to be displaced in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 4, wherein said at least one transverse element includes at least one bar affixed to an outer surface of said first electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 4, wherein said at least one transverse element is between said first electrode and said actuator forming a transverse area between said first electrode and said sheet, said transverse area enabling greater lengthwise expansion on a side of said sheet occupied by said first electrode than a side of said sheet without said transverse element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 4, wherein said property includes at least a second transverse element affixed to said second electrode, said at least a second transverse element being effective to change an ability of said second electrode to be displaced in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 1, wherein said elastomer contains a dielectric polyol responsive to an electric field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 8, wherein said dielectric polyol has a substituent having dipolar moment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 1, further comprising: a second sheet of elastomeric material; said second sheet of elastomeric material being of a type which is displaced when an electric field is applied thereto and returns toward its original dimension when said electric field is removed; third and fourth electrodes on opposed sides of said second sheet; said third electrode being affixed to said first electrode, whereby a bimorph structure is created; at least one of said third and fourth electrodes having a second property which converts displacement of said elastomeric material into one of a curvature and an elongation of said second sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 10, wherein application of said electric field only between said first and second electrodes changes said curvature of said bimorph structure in a first direction, and application of electricity only between said third and fourth electrodes changes said curvature of said bimorph structure in a second, opposite, direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 10, wherein simultaneous application of said electricity between said first and second electrodes and said third and fourth electrodes elongates said bimorph structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 10, wherein said elastomer contains a dielectric polyol responsive to an electric field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A polyurethane elastomeric actuator according to claim 13, wherein said dielectric polyol has a substituent having dipolar moment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |