US 12,407,276 B2
Rotary electroadhesive clutch
Stuart B. Diller, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Kirby A. Witte, Pittsburgh, PA (US); John D. Watkins, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Carmel Majidi, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Brock Zekany, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to ESTAT Actuation, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Appl. No. 18/288,960
Filed by ESTAT Actuation, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
PCT Filed May 2, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/027355
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 30, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/232707, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/182,681, filed on Apr. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0213892 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. F16D 28/00 (2006.01); H02N 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02N 13/00 (2013.01) [F16D 28/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary electroadhesive clutch comprising:
a first set of clutch members, wherein the first set of clutch members are electrically conductive;
a second set of clutch members interposed between the first set of clutch members, wherein the second set of clutch members are electrically conductive; and
a dielectric material separating each clutch member of the first set of clutch members from an adjacent member of the second set of clutch members,
wherein at least one of the first set of clutch members and the second set of clutch members comprises a flexible film, membrane, or sheet, in which the flexible film, membrane, or sheet is selectively or uniformly attached to a structural frame using pressure sensitive adhesive, selective sintering, welding, rivets, swages, bolts, heat stakes, stitches, adhesives, or epoxies.