Battelle Memorial Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Cue Corporation

James C. Kennedy

Charles R. Miele

Chuck A. Plaxico

Joseph R. Preston

Jay R. Sayre

W. Scott Versluis

Kary L. Valentine

Carl J. Serman

Chuck A Plaxico

Jay R Sayre

Kary L Valentine

Carl J Serman

Charles R Miele

Joseph R Preston

W Scott Versluis

James C Kennedy, Jr

James C Kennedy

Vincent Daniel McGinniss

Megan Moore

Mark Stasik

Malcolm H Ray

Jr Kennedy James C

Rotary motion devices () are provided. In one embodiment, the rotary motion devices () may comprise: a mass (); a circumferential component (); a plurality of spokes () connecting the mass () to the circumferential component (), at least one of the spokes () comprising an electroactive polymer, wherein: the at least one spoke () has at least one input electrode and is configured to deflect upon application of an electrical potential across the at least one input electrode, and the rotary motion device () is configured such that deflection of the at least one spoke () causes the mass () to move, thereby causing the rotary motion device () to become off balance with respect to gravity, and rotate.

Electroactive polymer (EAP)-based rotary motion devices

An impact attenuator system including a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy absorbing material with a tan &#x3b4; of not less than about 0.05 to assist rebound control.

Rebound control material

An impact attenuator system includes a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy-absorbing material which behaves in a rate-independent hyperelastic manner so that its permanent set is minimized and the material can absorb tremendous amounts of impact energy while remaining fully recoverable.

Impact attenuator system

An impact attenuator system includes a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy absorbing material which behaves in a rate-independent hyperelastic manner so that its permanent set is minimized and the material can absorb tremendous amounts of impact energy while remaining fully recoverable.

Tunable pull-through energy attenuator and decelerator devices is disclosed which provide for variable force-time profiles, deceleration and kinetic energy attenuation of moving objects so as to prevent damage or injury to impacting objects, vehicles or persons. The device employs either consumable inelastic or reusable, viscoelastic deforming elements, such as tubes, rods, plates or strips, which absorb substantial amounts of energy through repeated inelastic or viscoelastic deformation when the deforming element is pulled-through a tunable array of rigid pins having a variety of configurations and settings. The disclosed devices provide for variable force-time profiles which control the cumulative deformation and thereby the amount of energy absorbed and rate of deceleration of impacting objects. The device may be readily adapted and deployed as highway vehicle guardrails, road barriers or crash cushions for frontal and side impacts and as load attenuators for crash-resistant aircraft seats, spacecraft landing pods, crash-resistant aircraft landing gear, aircraft and vehicle passenger restraint harnesses, cargo tie-downs, vehicle bumpers and collapsible vehicle steering columns.

Variable force energy dissipater and decelerator

Growing community of inventors

Westerville, OH, United States of America

Chuck A Plaxico