US 12,264,691 B2
Artificial muscle assemblies comprising a reinforced housing
Michael P. Rowe, Pinckney, MI (US); Maduran Palaniswamy, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Shardul Panwar, 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 Sep. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/464,416.
Application 18/464,416 is a continuation of application No. 17/747,416, filed on May 18, 2022, granted, now 11,773,878.
Prior Publication US 2023/0417261 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F15B 15/10 (2006.01); F15B 21/06 (2006.01); H02N 1/00 (2006.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01)
CPC F15B 15/10 (2013.01) [F15B 21/06 (2013.01); H02N 1/006 (2013.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01); B32B 2307/51 (2013.01); F15B 15/103 (2013.01); F15B 2211/885 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An artificial muscle comprising:
a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, the housing including a first film layer and a second film layer, the first film layer comprising:
an outer protective layer having an outer elasticity; and
a reinforcing layer provided on an inner surface of the outer protective layer, the reinforcing layer having a reinforcing elasticity greater than the outer elasticity of the outer protective layer;
an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing and between the first film layer and the second film layer; and
a dielectric fluid housed within the housing.