Laminated flexible packaging type water-based phase change actuator

Abstract

The laminated flexible packaging type water-based phase change actuator comprises a first packaging layer and a second packaging layer, the peripheries of the first packaging layer and the second packaging layer are fixedly connected to form a closed hollow cavity; liquid capable of generating phase change is arranged in the hollow cavity; and the heating module is used for heating the phase change liquid to gasify the phase change liquid. A small amount of water is packaged by adopting a polyethylene material, a phase change material with a smaller volume is heated within the same reaction time, phase change is realized more quickly, carbon paper is used as a heating material, the carbon paper has good thermal conductivity and is heated more quickly, and the actuator adopting the structure has the advantages of low price, high integration level, good environmental compatibility and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of flexible actuator structure design and relates to a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator. Background Art

[0002] Flexible actuators are increasingly being used in various fields due to their advantages over rigid actuators, such as excellent shock absorption, vibration damping, biocompatibility, and adaptability to aquatic environments. They are found in a wide range of fields, including biomedicine, manufacturing, and underwater operations. Phase change actuators utilize phase change materials within the device, influencing its state by changing temperature, thereby controlling the volume of a sealed unit to achieve the desired movement. Currently, most phase change-based flexible actuator products are large in size, require a large amount of phase change material, and experience a slow temperature rise, resulting in a long phase change. Furthermore, the actuator as a whole is not completely flexible; its heating element remains a rigid structure, limiting the actuator's output displacement. The application of flexible actuators has become a trend in the fields of ocean exploration and bio-interaction. Flexible actuators with low cost, high integration, and good environmental compatibility are preferred in actual operations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve the above problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator, comprising:

[0004] a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer;

[0005] The first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer are fixedly connected around each other to form a closed hollow cavity;

[0006] Disposing a liquid capable of undergoing phase change inside the hollow chamber;

[0007] and a heating module for heating the phase-change liquid to vaporize the phase-change liquid.

[0008] Furthermore: the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer are made of flexible films.

[0009] Furthermore: the heating module adopts carbon paper heating wire.

[0010] Furthermore: the side lengths of the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer are in the range of millimeters to centimeters.

[0011] According to any one of the methods for processing a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator,

[0012] The laser cutting process is as follows: a carbon paper shape that meets the requirements is designed, the two-dimensional shape information of the carbon paper is transmitted to the laser cutting machine, and the entire carbon paper is cut to obtain several heating modules.

[0013] A displacement amplifying water-based phase change actuator device comprises a plurality of axially stacked and laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuators.

[0014] The present invention provides a laminated, flexible, and encapsulated water-based phase change actuator. This actuator utilizes a miniaturized encapsulation layer, significantly reducing the volume of material required for phase change, thereby shortening the time it takes for the phase change to occur. The heating module combines both sensing and heating functions, offering a high degree of integration. By combining multiple laminated, flexible, and encapsulated water-based phase change actuators, axial displacement can be amplified in specialized applications. Furthermore, the water-based design offers excellent environmental compatibility, ensuring that any leakage will not cause destructive impacts on the environment.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. Use polyethylene material to encapsulate a small amount of water, heat a smaller volume of phase change material within the same reaction time, and achieve phase change faster.

[0017] 2. Use carbon paper as the heating material, which has good thermal conductivity and heats up faster to achieve phase change.

[0018] 3. Carbon paper as a heating material can bend to a certain extent due to its toughness, so that when the volume of the moving unit changes, the carbon paper can bend as its volume expands, conforming to the surface to improve heating efficiency.

[0019] 4. Full flexibility is achieved from the heating device to the execution device.

[0020] 5. All the energy of the heating material carbon paper is converted into heat energy, and its energy loss conforms to the Joule heat principle. By using the Joule heat principle, the size of the package unit can be changed by changing the voltage and power-on time, which is easy to control.

[0021] 6. Based on the relationship between carbon paper temperature and resistance, temperature information can be fed back according to the resistance signal. By controlling the power supply voltage, displacement or temperature closed-loop control can be achieved, forming a complete and integrated phase change actuator action unit;

[0022] 7. No traditional molding processes such as injection molding or casting are required during processing, and no mold opening is required. All key components can be processed by laser cutting alone. The processing method is simple and the cost is low.

[0023] 8. The actuator adopting the structure has the advantages of low price, high integration and good environmental compatibility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is an axonometric diagram of a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the axial stacking operation of a laminated flexible encapsulated water-based phase change actuator of the present invention in a special working environment; (a) when not deployed, (b) when deployed;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the regression fitting of voltage and time versus displacement for the laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator;

[0029] Figure numerals: 1. first packaging layer; 2. heating module; 3. phase change liquid; 4. second packaging layer; 5. packaging boundary; 6. distilled water; 7. heating module terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] It should be noted that, unless there is any conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0031] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator of the present invention;

[0033] A laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator, comprising:

[0034] First encapsulation layer 1;

[0035] A second encapsulation layer 4 is provided above and below the first encapsulation layer 1.

[0036] The first encapsulation layer 1 and the second encapsulation layer 4 are fixedly connected and encapsulated by an encapsulation boundary 5 to form a hollow cavity;

[0037] The hollow chamber contains a liquid capable of undergoing phase change and a heating module 2 for heating the phase change liquid 3 to vaporize the phase change liquid.

[0038] The heating module 2 includes two reserved terminals 7 arranged outside the chamber;

[0039] The actuator adopts this "sandwich" structure to achieve unified packaging of the heater and phase change material, and can realize external phase change output without additional components.

[0040] Because the encapsulated actuator has a side length of millimeters to centimeters, it can heat up and cool naturally quickly, achieving a faster response than large phase change devices. A flexible carbon paper heating filament heats the encapsulated liquid until it changes phase, causing a volume change and thus achieving the actuation function.

[0041] The first encapsulation layer 1 and the second encapsulation layer 4 are made of the same material and have the same size; the first encapsulation layer 1 is made of a flexible film, i.e., polyvinyl chloride material;

[0042] The first encapsulation layer 1 and the second encapsulation layer 4 are in the shape of a square or a rectangle;

[0043] The heating module 2 uses a carbon paper heating wire. The flexible carbon paper heating wire is used to heat the encapsulated liquid to a phase change, thereby achieving a volume change and thus realizing the driving function.

[0044] The carbon paper shape is such that it can change with the actuator displacement and provide enough resistance to generate heat;

[0045] The shape of the carbon paper heating wire is a patterned shape, a giant sawtooth shape or a curved shape; that is, the shape of the carbon paper heating wire that meets the requirements;

[0046] The length of the carbon paper heating wire can be extended to increase the resistance;

[0047] The phase change liquid 3 is distilled water 6 .

[0048] The volume of the phase change liquid 3 should ensure that the heating module 2 is completely immersed in the phase change liquid 3, and secondly, after the phase change actuator reaches the maximum expansion height, a certain amount of liquid phase change liquid 3 still remains inside the chamber;

[0049] When the phase change occurs, the external shape of the actuator changes to a receding spherical shape, and the carbon paper bends accordingly. To ensure that its control accuracy does not change, the carbon paper should be completely immersed in water during the entire expansion process. The water volume at its limit is: 0.105ml;

[0050] The packaging process of a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator is as follows:

[0051] First, cut the packaging material to an appropriate size, add carbon paper, fold it in half, inject glue, and fix it with thermoplastic so that the carbon paper pins fit tightly with the packaging material;

[0052] Then inject glue and thermoform one side of the opening, inject a set amount of water, and inject glue and thermoform the other side of the opening to complete the actuator packaging.

[0053] A laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator system, comprising a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator;

[0054] A power module for providing power to the laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator;

[0055] A controller for controlling the heating process of the laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator.

[0056] The process of controlling the heating process of the laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator is as follows:

[0057] Through multiple experiments, we can get the fitting formula of current, power-on time, and displacement. The output displacement can be predicted by the formula, and the power-on time and current can be controlled according to the target displacement, that is, closed-loop control.

[0058] First, a DC excitation current is applied to the two pins of the actuator. The carbon paper material heats the water base inside the actuator. When the water base is heated to a certain degree, it boils, and the actuator outputs force and displacement. The heating current and heating time are controlled by fitting formulas to achieve the target displacement. The actuator displacement prediction formula is:

[0059] S=16.2018-3.0726V-0.204T+0.2214V 2 +0.0498VT+0.0002T 2 -0.0031V 2 T-5.4113×10-6V

[0060] T 2 -1.3436×10-6T 3 ;

[0061] Where: s represents the actuator output displacement height, v represents the power-on voltage, and t represents the power-on time;

[0062] Water-based phase change material is used. The voltage applied to both ends of the heating unit and the power-on time are changed to control the volume of the water-based phase change and realize the expected action of the flexible actuator.

[0063] Figure 2 This is an axonometric diagram of a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the axial stacking operation of a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator of the present invention in a special working environment; (a) when not unfolded, (b) when unfolded.

[0065] A displacement-amplifying water-based phase-change actuator device, comprising multiple axially stacked, flexible, encapsulated water-based phase-change actuators, is designed to meet high-deformation requirements. If the displacement of a single actuator does not meet design requirements and the displacements of multiple actuators are desired, a truss structure can be used to combine them.

[0066] According to any of the processing methods for a laminated flexible encapsulated water-based phase change actuator, the laser cutting process is as follows: based on the shape of the carbon paper heating wire that meets the requirements, the two-dimensional shape information of the carbon paper heating wire is transmitted to the laser cutting machine, and the entire piece of carbon paper is cut to obtain several heating modules. There is no need to use metal actuator casting, which is our innovation that distinguishes it from other actuators.

[0067] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the regression fitting of voltage and time versus displacement for the laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator;

[0068] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator, characterized by: include: a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer; The first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer are fixedly connected around each other to form a closed hollow cavity; Disposing a liquid capable of undergoing phase change inside the hollow chamber; and a heating module for heating the phase-change liquid to vaporize the phase-change liquid.

2. The laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer are made of flexible films.

3. The laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating module adopts carbon paper heating wire.

4. The laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side lengths of the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer are in the range of millimeters to centimeters.

5. A method for processing a laminated flexible packaged water-based phase change actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The laser cutting process is as follows: according to the shape of the carbon paper heating wire that meets the requirements, the two-dimensional shape information of the carbon paper heating wire is transmitted to the laser cutting machine, and the entire carbon paper is cut to obtain several heating modules.

6. A displacement amplifying water-based phase change actuator device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a plurality of axially stacked flexible packaged water-based phase change actuators.

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