US 11,680,559 B1
Artificial muscles and hybrid actuation devices including artificial muscles having reinforcing threads to prevent permanent deformation
Michael P. Rowe, Pinckney, MI (US); Shardul S. Panwar, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Maduran Palaniswamy, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/714,578.
Int. Cl. F03G 7/06 (2006.01); B25J 9/10 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 7/06143 (2021.08) [B25J 9/1075 (2013.01); B25J 9/1085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An artificial muscle comprising:
a housing comprising an electrode region, an expandable fluid region, and a first reinforcing thread extending across the expandable fluid region;
an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode positioned adjacent a first surface of the housing and a second electrode positioned adjacent a second surface of the housing; and
a dielectric fluid housed within the housing,
wherein the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, and
wherein the first reinforcing thread restricts expansion of the expandable fluid region when the electrode pair is in the actuated state.