University of Michigan

Flexsys, Inc.

Other

Aeromover Systems Inc.

Sridhar Kota

Joel A Hetrick

Gregory F Ervin

Yong-Mo Moon

Yoram Koren

Srinivas R Bidare

Joshua Bishop-Moser

M Steven Rodgers

David Charles Hornick

Girish Krishnan

Michael Fisher

Dragan Maric

Mark R Trost

Ruey-Khan K Tsang

Kerr-Jia Lu

Zachary Kreiner

Yong Mo-Moon

Margaret Kohler

Joel A Herrick

Alan Wineman

Robert Schartow

Matthew Obrigkeit

Somphone Khamly

Aaron Rinn

Jia-Hsuan Lo

Audrey Sedal

Froukje Ellen Euwe

An actuator system is provided having a fluidic body member having a surface configured to be deformable in response to a pressure differential. One or more auxetic elements are disposed on and engage the surface of the fluidic body member in the form of a network of beam elements. The auxetic element has a negative Poisson's ratio resulting in kinematics such that upon application of the internal fluid pressure, the surface of the fluidic body member is caused to have specific kinematics enabling planar and 3D motions. In some embodiments, the plurality of non-auxetic elements cooperate with a plurality of auxetic elements.

Fluidic actuator system using auxetic beam reinforcements

An edge-morphing arrangement for an airfoil includes a compliant upper surface and a compliant lower surface that are joined together. An actuator is coupled to a driven surface and actuated to move the driven surface and change the shape thereof, with the non-driven surface changing its shape in response to actuation of the driven surface. The upper and lower surfaces can be part of a sub-flap mounted to a traditional flap of the fixed wing of an airplane. The upper and lower surfaces can be mounted to existing structure in the flap, or the flap components can be mounted to the sub-flap. The upper and lower surfaces can alternatively replace the traditional flap in the fixed wing of an aircraft. The upper and lower surfaces are continuous and can be deflected upward, downward, or twisted in a span-wise direction relative to the flap or wing.

Edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil

A mechanism is hereby disclosed that, when activated in the linear direction of its axis, will expand and contract radially. The novel nature of the device is that of compliant methods and materials used in its design. Compliant members, referred to as dyads, translate the motion and imply resistance in a single structure. Thus eliminating the need for separate members, hinges, pins, springs and the associated assembly. When these compliant dyads are combined in the novel configurations hereby disclosed, a device is created that expands (or contracts) in multiple directions from its primary axis of actuation. Furthermore, one or more actuation dyad sets could be arranged at various angles relative to the global vertical axis. The radial expansion/contraction can be 2D or 3D by adding more primary activation dyad sets. Such a device can be applied to many applications and industries. One such application is for gripping the inside of a tube or object for moving manually or in automation. The compliant nature of this device can be optimized to auto-adapt to the objects size and shape allowing for greater part variation and reduce manufacturing line change-over times. Other applications would include snap fit connections, spherical articulating joints, spinning cutting tools, speed limiting using friction and centrifugal force, braking rotational forces or transmitting it, automatic centering, expanding elastic bands in an assembly process, and stretching an opening for fitment. The design of this device is material friendly and can be made of plastic, composite and metals. It may be of a single monoform construction (created by molding, machining, or additive manufacturing) or made of multiple parts including pivots and different materials to achieve the desired articulation.

Deployable compliant mechanism

A fiber reinforced actuator includes first and second sets of fibers coupled with and arranged along a control volume to controllably constrain mobility of an actuator body. Fibers of the first set can be arranged with respect to fibers of the second set and with respect to a central axis to impart the actuator with various combinations of torsional and axial force responses. A third fiber may be included to form a helical actuator. A plurality of actuators can be coupled together for coordinated movement, thereby providing additional mobility directions, such as trans-actuator bending. The fiber-reinforced actuators and actuator assemblies are potential low cost, low energy consumption, lightweight, and simple replacements for existing motion devices such as servo-motor driven robots.

Fiber-reinforced actuator

An edge morphing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with an elongated edge portion that overlies the edge of the airfoil, the edge portion having a surface element having first and second edges that communicate with, and form extensions of, respective ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the elongated airfoil. The surface elements are formed of deformable compliant material that extends cross-sectionally from the first surface element edge to an apex of the edge portion, and to the second surface element edge. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of one of the first and second rib portions. The second end is arranged to receive a morphing force, and the rib element is deformed in response to the morphing force.

Compliant structure design for varying surface contours

An edge mo&#x3c6;hing arrangement for an airfoil having upper and lower control surfaces is provided with a rib element arranged to overlie the edge of the airfoil. The rib element has first and second rib portions arranged to communicate with respectively associated ones of the upper and lower control surfaces of the airfoil. A first compliant linkage element has first and second ends and is disposed between the first and second rib portions of the rib element, the first and second ends are each coupled to the interior of a respectively associated one of the first and second rib portions. There is additionally provided a driving link having first and second driving link ends, the first driving link end being coupled to the interior of a selectable one of the first and second rib portions.

Compliant structure design of varying surface contours

A surgical tool and monolithic frame therefore are disclosed. The monolithic frame defines a longitudinal axis between opposite first and second ends thereof, and is adapted to receive the flexible drive shaft of a surgical tool, and to support at an end thereof the rotary cutting tool of a surgical tool. The monolithic frame is characterized by greater flexibility in opposite directions along a first axis defined normal to the longitudinal axis than in opposite directions along a second axis defined normal to both the first axis and the longitudinal axis.

Surgical tools and components thereof

An iris arrangement has first and second annular carrier elements annular elements coaxially arranged and circumferentially interlocked with one another so as to be independently rotatable. A plurality of iris elements each have a first compliant beam element coupled at a first end thereof to the iris element and at a second end thereof to the first annular carrier element, and a second compliant beam element coupled at a first end thereof to the associated iris element and at a second end thereof to the second annular carrier element. Rotatory motion of the carrier elements relative to each other results in substantially radial displacement of each of the iris elements. The plurality of iris elements communicate with one another when disposed in a radially innermost position. A web covers a region between the plurality of iris elements and the circumference of the first and second annular elements.

Compliant iris flow control system

Variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces is produced by a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element () having a corresponding first outer surface () and a first inner surface (), and a second resiliently variable frame element () having a corresponding second outer surface () and a second inner surface (). The first and second outer surfaces () communicate with respective ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. A linkage element (-) having a predetermined resilience characteristic is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface () and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface (). A frame coupler () couples the first resiliently variable frame element () to a support element (). An actuator () applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element () with respect to the support element (150), resulting in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces.

Adaptive compliant wing and rotor system

A windshield wiper arrangement has a windshield wiper blade coupled thereto. A resilient windshield wiper blade support has a primary beam () coupled in a coupling region of the primary beam (). A first compliant beam portion () is formed of three compliant sections arranged as an end-point triangle. A second compliant beam structure () is arranged as a triangle. A third compliant beam () structure is formed as a triangle with a portion of the primary beam forming a leg of the triangle.

Compliant windshield wiper systems

A reconfigurable multi-spindle apparatus for use with a machining device in a plurality of configurations across part families. In one embodiment, the reconfigurable multi-spindle apparatus may include at least two spindle head modules, a mechanism for transmitting power between the spindle head modules, and a mechanism for reconfigurably connecting the spindle head modules such that the multi-spindle apparatus is reconfigured from a first configuration to a second configuration across part families. An embodiment of a spindle head module may include two tool holders and a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the tool holders such that the multi-spindle apparatus is reconfigured within a part family.

Reconfigurable multi-spindle apparatus

A displacement modifying structure for receiving an input displacement from a motor source and generating a multiplied displacement therefrom for provision to a load. The structure includes a static beam and a dynamic beam. The static beam has a fixed end and a movable end while the dynamic beam has a first end and a second end. The first end of the dynamic beam is connected between the motive source and the movable end of the static beam. The second is also connected through a pivotless joint to the movable end of the static beam. Upon movement of the first end over a first distance by the motive source, the second end of the dynamic beam and the movable end of the static beam move over a second distance for provision to the load. The second distance, or output displacement is greater than the first distance.

Displacement amplification structure and device

Compliant mechanisms are arranged to enable airfoil and other structures to adapt their shapes to different flight conditions and thereby achieve optimum lift:drag ratios in plural flight conditions. The compliant mechanisms can be formed integrally whereby a compliant frame thereof, or the skin of the airfoil, undergo elastic or other deformation to produce the desired displacements in direct response to applied forces. In an airfoil context, shape changes can be effected by the leading and trailing edges of the entire airfoil system. In addition, the driver arrangements of the compliant mechanisms can be controlled individually to effect a desired surface contour throughout the length of the wing, illustratively a twist therein.

System for varying a surface contour

A reconfigurable tool changer allows a tool cartridge to be easily attached to, or detached from, a standard machine-tool spindle head. The modular design, includes a revolving tool cartridge having a plurality of tool holders, a meshing gear for engaging a tool holder with the spindle of the machine tool, and an adapter block for positioning the revolving tool cartridge on any standard machine-tool spindle head. The adapter block allows the automatic tool changer to be easily coupled to a wide variety of commercial machine-tool spindles, making the invention a truly reconfigurable and portable tool changer. The revolving tool cartridge incorporates a novel three-dimensional cam structure mechanism, which allows tool indexing to be achieved by means of only one actuator.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Sridhar Kota