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:
Aug. 29, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2015
Erik D. Engeberg, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Savas Dilibal, Akron, OH (US);
Erik D. Engeberg, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Savas Dilibal, Akron, OH (US);
The University of Akron, Akron, OH (US);
Abstract
An antagonistically actuated shape memory alloy (SMA) manipulator utilizes a pair of SMA actuators. The SMA actuators are configured, such that one actuator is trained to have a substantially linear or extended shape in its austenite phase, while the other actuator is trained to have a curved or flexed shape in its austenite phase. As such, the manipulator is operated, such that when one SMA actuator is heated and takes on its 'trained' shape in the austenite phase, the other SMA actuator is permitted to cool and allowed to return to its original 'untrained' shape in the martensite phase, and vice versa. This antagonistic operation of the SMA actuators allows the manipulator to achieve rapid flexion and extension movements.