Composite Insulator Artificial Muscle for Higher Force Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial muscles face limitations in force output, requiring bulky actuators or increased operating voltage to exert more force, and often rely on inefficient fluidic actuators or thermally activated polymer fibers that are difficult to control.
Innovation Solution
The development of an artificial muscle with a composite electrical insulating layered structure, including titanium dioxide nanoparticles within an adhesive surface, surrounded by biaxially oriented polypropylene films, which enhances the dielectric constant and allows for increased force output without increasing actuator size or voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional electrical insulators are used in artificial muscles, then the structure is simple, but the force output is limited and requires bulky actuators or increased voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining titanium dioxide nanoparticles with adhesive layers to create a composite electrical insulating structure. This composite structure increases the dielectric constant, enabling higher force output without increasing actuator size or voltage, thus resolving the contradiction between force output and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the insulator by incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which significantly increase the dielectric constant of the insulating material. This parameter change allows the system to generate higher electrostatic forces without increasing voltage or actuator dimensions, resolving the force output limitation.
2Force
If fluidic actuators are used, then force can be increased, but the system requires pressurized gas or liquid supply and fluid transport channels, limiting speed and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fluidic mechanical system with an electrostatic system. Instead of using pressurized fluid to generate force, the invention uses electrostatic attraction between charged electrodes separated by the composite insulator, eliminating the need for fluid transport channels and enabling faster, more efficient actuation while maintaining force output capability.
3Ease of operation
If thermally activated polymer fibers are used, then actuation can be achieved, but control is difficult and operating efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal activation with electrical activation. Instead of heating polymer fibers to achieve actuation, the invention uses electrostatic fields to directly generate mechanical force, providing precise and immediate control while significantly improving operating efficiency by eliminating thermal lag and energy loss.
4Force
If conventional insulators are used, then manufacturing is simple, but increasing force output requires increasing actuator size or voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with high dielectric constant (titanium dioxide nanoparticles in adhesive) to enhance the insulating layer's electrical properties. This allows the generation of stronger electrostatic forces within the same actuator volume, eliminating the need to increase size or voltage to achieve higher force output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dielectric constant parameter of the insulating material by incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles. This parameter change enables the system to generate higher forces within the same volume by increasing the electrostatic field strength, avoiding the need to increase actuator dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the artificial muscle to produce higher force output with the same size actuator and operating voltage, improving efficiency and control, and is suitable for applications requiring lightweight and strong actuators.
Implementation Method 1
The composite electrical insulating layered structure includes an electrical insulator layer including titanium dioxide nanoparticles, wherein the electrical insulator layer has a thickness in a range of 10-15 μm and is surrounded by acrylic adhesives
Implementation Method 2
the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric liquid into the expandable liquid region, expanding the expandable liquid region
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable liquid region and a dielectric liquid housed within the housing. The artificial muscle further includes an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric liquid into the expandable liquid region, expanding the expandable liquid region. The artificial muscle also includes a composite electrical insulating layered structure in contact with at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode, wherein the composite electrical insulating layered structure that includes an electrical insulator layer surrounded by adhesive surfaces. The adhesive surfaces are located between one or more flexible electrical insulators.