Fluid-Driven Fabric With Pressure-Gated Chambers for Lightweight Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart textiles for soft robotics, wearable technology, and haptic technology are often heavy, expensive, and limited to specific applications, lacking flexibility, foldability, and washability.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-driven fabric with a layered structure and controlled fluid network, featuring chambers and channels with adjustable fluid resistances to manage the flow of displaceable fluid, allowing for controlled inflation and wave-like patterns, using materials like cotton, polyester, and thermoplastic elastomers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional smart textiles are used to support user movement, then functional support is provided, but the textiles become heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible fabric structure with fluid chambers formed within thin film layers, replacing traditional rigid or heavy mechanical support components. The fabric layers (31, 32) form flexible encapsulations for fluid channels and chambers, enabling lightweight structural support through fluid pressure rather than mechanical rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a fluid network system where a displaceable fluid is pumped through channels into expandable chambers within the fabric. This pneumatic/hydraulic system provides dynamic support and actuation functions, replacing heavier mechanical actuators or rigid structural elements while maintaining flexibility and reducing weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional smart textiles are used for specific applications, then application-specific functionality is achieved, but adaptability to other uses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal fabric platform with a modular fluid network system that can be configured for different applications. The same basic structure with pump, channels, and chambers can serve multiple functions (support, actuation, sensing) and adapt to various use cases by changing fluid flow patterns rather than requiring application-specific hardware designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of fluid flow through variable resistance elements and controllable pumping, allowing the system to adapt its behavior in real-time. The fluid resistance in channels can be adjusted to control inflation rates and pressure distribution, enabling the same fabric structure to perform different functions dynamically without physical reconfiguration.
3Manufacturing precision
If fluid resistance is increased to control flow direction, then flow control precision improves, but fluid flow speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pumping action to move fluid through the network, alternating between filling phases (where higher resistance is acceptable) and emptying phases (where faster flow is needed). The pump cyclically pressurizes and releases fluid, allowing precise control during inflation while maintaining faster overall system response through the rhythmic nature of the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable fluid resistance elements that can change their resistance characteristics during operation. This allows the system to optimize flow control precision when needed (higher resistance) while maintaining faster flow speeds when rapid actuation is required, adapting the resistance in real-time based on operational demands.
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
Enables flexible, lightweight, and washable fabrics that can adapt to various applications by controlling the speed and sequence of inflation, suitable for soft robotics, wearable technology, and haptic technology.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid network comprises a fluid source holding a displaceable fluid, a plurality of chambers, and interconnecting fluid channels for transportation of the displaceable fluid. The chambers have at least an initial inner pressure, a first threshold inner pressure, and a maximum inner pressure.
Implementation Method 2
The channels have a fluid resistance which is defined as a resistance to fluid flowing in an upstream direction. A first fluid resistance of a first channel fluidly interconnecting a first one of the chambers and a second one of the chambers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A fluid-driven fabric 10 for use in soft robotics, wearable technology, human-machine interfaces, and/or haptic technology is disclosed. The fluid-driven fabric 10 comprises a first layer 21 and a second layer 22 being affixed to the first layer 21 and thereby forming a fluid network 40. The fluid network 40 comprises a fluid source 50 holding a displaceable fluid 60, a plurality of chambers C1, ..., Cn, and interconnecting fluid channels L1, ..., Ln for transportation of the displaceable fluid 60. The chambers C1, ..., Cn have at least at least an initial inner pressure p0,1, ..., p0,n, a first threshold inner pressure p1,1, ..., p1,n, and a maximum inner pressure pmax,1, ..., pmax,n. The channels have a fluid resistance R1, ..., Rn defined in an upstream direction. A first fluid Ri resistance of a first channel Li fluidly interconnecting a first one Ci of the chambers C1, ..., Cn and a second one Ci+1 of the chambers C1, ..., Cn, the second chamber Ci+1 being upstream of the first chamber Ci, is so determined such that flow of the displaceable fluid 60 from the first chamber Ci to the second chamber Ci+1 is prevented if an inner pressure pi,i of the first chamber Ci is less than the first threshold inner pressure pi,i of the first chamber C;.