Light adjusting apparatus
US-2017023845-A1 · Jan 26, 2017 · US
Variable hardness actuator
US2016276085A1 · US · A1
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-2016276085-A1 |
| Application number | US-201615171000-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | A1 |
| Filing date | Jun 2, 2016 |
| Priority date | Dec 3, 2013 |
| Publication date | Sep 22, 2016 |
| Grant date | — |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
A variable hardness actuator includes a flexible tubular member; plural particles of magnetic powder filling the tubular member; a coil wound around an outer circumference of the tubular member, surrounding the magnetic powder; a drive unit configured to supply electric current to the coil; and a directing unit used to give a direction to the drive unit to supply the electric current, wherein the coil generates a magnetic field using the electric current supplied from the drive unit in response to the direction from the directing unit, causing the plural particles of magnetic powder to magnetize spontaneously, magnetically couple together, and harden.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1 . A variable hardness actuator comprising: a tubular member having flexibility; a plurality of magnetic bodies filling the tubular member; a coil wound around an outer circumference of the tubular member, surrounding the magnetic bodies; a drive unit configured to supply electric current to the coil; and a directing unit used to give a direction to the drive unit to supply the electric current, wherein the coil generates a magnetic field using the electric current supplied from the drive unit in response to the direction from the directing unit, causing the plurality of magnetic bodies to magnetize spontaneously, magnetically couple together, and harden. 2 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 1 , wherein: the drive unit is able to control an amount of the electric current supplied; the directing unit allows the amount of the electric current supplied by the drive unit to be specified; and hardness of the plurality of magnetic bodies is adjustable by controlling the amount of the electric current supplied to the coil. 3 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic bodies and the coil are placed in part of the tubular member in an axial direction. 4 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic bodies are magnetic powder. 5 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic bodies are bendable magnetic wire rods placed along an axial direction of the tubular member. 6 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic bodies are columnar magnetic bodies having an outside diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the tubular member, and a plurality of the columnar magnetic bodies are arranged in a line, with a central axis of the columnar magnetic bodies being placed along an axial direction of the tubular member. 7 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic bodies are spherical magnetic bodies having a diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the tubular member, and a plurality of the spherical magnetic bodies are arranged in a line along an axial direction of the tubular member. 8 . The variable hardness actuator according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnetic bodies are a plurality of fine magnetic particles dispersed in a fluid making up a viscous magnetic fluid filling the tubular member.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
- H01F13/003Primary
Methods and devices for magnetising permanent magnets (permanent magnets H01F7/02) · CPC title
with stiffening means · CPC title
Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports · CPC title
Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires · CPC title
characterised by magnetoviscosity, e.g. magnetorheological, magnetothixotropic, magnetodilatant liquids (electrorheological fluids C10M171/001) · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US2016276085A1 cover?
- A variable hardness actuator includes a flexible tubular member; plural particles of magnetic powder filling the tubular member; a coil wound around an outer circumference of the tubular member, surrounding the magnetic powder; a drive unit configured to supply electric current to the coil; and a directing unit used to give a direction to the drive unit to supply the electric current, wherein t…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Olympus Corp
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H01F13/003. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Thu Sep 22 2016 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (A1). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 3 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).