Electrostatic Rotary Clutch Torque via Voltage Differential
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary clutches, particularly electromagnetic ones, consume significant power, generate heat, and are unsuitable for low-powered and battery-operated devices due to cogging issues caused by copper windings and magnets.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic rotary clutch with conductive housing and rotor plates that utilize a voltage differential to create electrostatic adhesion, reducing power consumption and eliminating cogging issues by forming electrically-conductive plate pairs within a housing, allowing for adjustable torque resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If electromagnetic rotary clutches with copper windings and magnets are used, then torque resistance is achieved, but power consumption increases and cogging issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic system (copper windings and magnets) with an electrostatic system consisting of conductive plates and dielectric layers. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous electromagnetic field generation, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining torque resistance through electrostatic adhesion forces between charged plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical principle from electromagnetic to electrostatic, utilizing voltage differential across dielectric layers to create adhesion forces. By controlling the voltage parameter, the system achieves variable torque resistance with significantly lower power consumption compared to electromagnetic systems that require continuous current flow.
2Force
If electromagnetic rotary clutches with copper windings and magnets are used, then torque resistance is achieved, but cogging issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic system (copper windings and magnets) with an electrostatic system consisting of conductive plates and dielectric layers. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous electromagnetic field generation, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining torque resistance through electrostatic adhesion forces between charged plates.
3Force
If more housing plates and rotor plates are placed within the housing, then torque resistance increases, but space constraints limit the number of plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where multiple conductive plates and dielectric layers are stacked axially within the housing. Each rotor plate is positioned between two housing plates, creating multiple electrostatic interfaces in a compact axial space. This nested configuration maximizes the number of active plates without increasing the radial footprint, thereby increasing torque resistance while maintaining compact housing 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
The electrostatic rotary clutch achieves torque resistance with low power consumption and avoids cogging issues, enabling efficient operation in various applications including low-powered devices.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage differential is applied between the plurality of housing plates and the plurality of rotor plates, which causes an electrostatic adhesion between the housing plate and the rotor plate in each electrically-conductive plate pair
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatuses, and devices are provided for an electrostatic rotary clutch (100). The clutch (100) comprises electrically-conductive housing plates (300) fixed into position in grooves (204) within a housing (102) of the clutch (100). The clutch (100) also comprises rotor plates (500) that are fixed onto a shaft (104). The shaft (104) is positioned within the housing (102) such that each rotor plate (500) is adjacently positioned next to each housing plate (300), thereby forming a plurality of electrically-conductive plate pairs (300; 500). To produce a torque resistance on the shaft (104), a voltage differential is applied between the housing (102) and rotor plates (500), which causes an electrostatic adhesion between the housing (102) and rotor plate (500) in each electrically-conductive plate pair (300; 500). Alternatively, the housing (1500) and rotor plates (500) are not fixed into position, enabling a greater number of housing (1500) and rotor (500) plates within the housing (1302) and increasing the torque resistance produced on the shaft (1304) when applying the voltage differential.