US 12,463,563 B2
Electrostatic clutch
Jeffrey Lipton, Seattle, WA (US); Joshua R. Smith, Seattle, WA (US); Timothy Amish, Seattle, WA (US); Jeffrey Auletta, Seattle, WA (US); and Chad Christopher Kessens, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to University of Washington, Seattle, WA (US); and U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD (US)
Filed by University of Washington, Seattle, WA (US); and U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD (US)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/911,899.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/589,536, filed on Oct. 11, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0125746 A1, Apr. 17, 2025
Int. Cl. F16D 28/00 (2006.01); H02N 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02N 13/00 (2013.01) [F16D 28/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrostatic clutch comprising:
a shaft comprising a first layer that is electrically conductive;
a hold attachment rotatably coupled to the shaft;
a tension band comprising a second layer that is electrically conductive, wherein the tension band is wrapped around the shaft such that a first end of the tension band is coupled to the hold attachment;
a dielectric material disposed between the first layer and the second layer; and
a load attachment rotatably coupled to the shaft, wherein the electrostatic clutch is configured to perform functions comprising:
operating in an engaged mode wherein a voltage applied between the first layer and the second layer causes the tension band to clasp the shaft and the load attachment and the hold attachment to be rotationally locked to the shaft; and
operating in a disengaged mode wherein the voltage is absent and the shaft can rotate freely with respect to the load attachment and the hold attachment.