US 12,126,279 B2
Hybrid actuation devices including artificial muscle stacks
Maduran Palaniswamy, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Michael P. Rowe, Pinckney, 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 Dec. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/540,391.
Prior Publication US 2023/0179122 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. H02N 11/00 (2006.01); B25J 9/10 (2006.01)
CPC H02N 11/006 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1075 (2013.01); B25J 9/1085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid actuation device comprising:
a first plate coupled to a second plate;
a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate; and
an artificial muscle stack positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the artificial muscle stack comprising a plurality of artificial muscles, each artificial muscle comprising:
a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region;
a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing; and
a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing, wherein the expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate.