Rotary motion devices (10) are provided. In one embodiment, the rotary motion devices (10) may comprise: a mass (12); a circumferential component (14); a plurality of spokes (16) connecting the mass (12) to the circumferential component (14), at least one of the spokes (16) comprising an electroactive polymer, wherein: the at least one spoke (16) has at least one input electrode and is configured to deflect upon application of an electrical potential across the at least one input electrode, and the rotary motion device (10) is configured such that deflection of the at least one spoke (16) causes the mass (12) to move, thereby causing the rotary motion device (10) to become off balance with respect to gravity, and rotate.
Electroactive polymer (EAP)-based rotary motion devices
2016-06-28
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60B VEHICLE WHEELS , Räder für Fahrzeuge / H01L Halbleiterbauelemente , SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES / F16H Getriebe , GEARING / B60K Anordnung oder Einbau von Antriebseinheiten oder von Kraft- bzw. Drehmomentübertragungen in Fahrzeugen , ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES / H02N Elektrische Maschinen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen , ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR / F04D Strömungsarbeitsmaschinen , NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS / B25J Manipulatoren , MANIPULATORS / G05G CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY , Steuer- oder Regelvorrichtungen oder Steuer- oder Regelsysteme gekennzeichnet ausschließlich durch mechanische Einzelheiten |