The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 2021
Filed:
Oct. 09, 2019
Board of Regents, the University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US);
Na Li, Richardson, TX (US);
Carter S. Haines, Murphy, TX (US);
Marcio D. Lima, Richardson, TX (US);
Monica Jung DeAndrade, Richardson, TX (US);
Shaoli Fang, Richardson, TX (US);
Jiyoung Oh, Richardson, TX (US);
Mikhail E. Kozlov, Dallas, TX (US);
Dongseok Suh, Plano, TX (US);
Ray H. Baughman, Dallas, TX (US);
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate torsional actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize coiled yarns/polymer fibers and can be either neat or comprising a guest. In some embodiments, the actuator system includes a twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator, and at least one of (i) wire connections that enable electrical heating of the twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator, (ii) a radiation source and radiation pathway that enables photothermal heating of the twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator, and (iii) a delivery system for delivering chemicals whose reaction produces heating of the twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator.