All-liquid electrorheological effect

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016369202-A1
Application number	US-201515121492-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a giant electrorheological (ER) effect includes an upper high voltage electrode and a lower high voltage electrode, the upper high voltage electrode and the lower high voltage electrode each covered with a water-absorbing material and have water absorbed thereon. The apparatus also includes a fluid channel formed by layers and positioned in a gap between the upper high voltage electrode and the lower high voltage electrode; a pressure sensor positioned at one of the high voltage electrodes; a pump to flow silicon oil through the fluid channel; and a high voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the upper high voltage electrode. A method for generating a ER utilizes the apparatus.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for generating an electrorheological (ER) effect comprising:
an upper voltage electrode and a lower voltage electrode, the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode each covered with a water-absorbing material and have water absorbed thereon; a fluid channel formed by layers and positioned in a gap between the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode; a pressure sensor positioned at one of the voltage electrodes; a pump to flow silicon oil through the fluid channel; and a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the upper voltage electrode.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gap between the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode is selected from 1 mm, 0.75 mm and 0.5 mm.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pump is a syringe pump.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water absorbing material is a polyester-based water absorbing membrane.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage applied to the electrodes is between 1 kV and 6 kV, inclusive.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a function generator configured to send a control signal to the voltage source.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the control signal is rectangular wave, duration of the signal is 40 seconds, and duty cycle is 0.5.

8 . A method for generating an electrorheological (ER) effect comprising:
providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
an upper voltage electrode and a lower voltage electrode, the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode each covered with a water-absorbing material and have water absorbed thereon;
a fluid channel formed by layers and positioned in a gap between the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode;
a pressure sensor positioned at one of the voltage electrodes;
a pump; and
a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode;
flowing silicone oil through the fluid channel using the pump; and applying voltage to the upper voltage electrode, thereby creating an electric field and generating the ER effect.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the gap between the upper voltage electrode and the lower voltage electrode is selected from 1 mm, 0.75 mm and 0.5 mm.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the pump is a syringe pump.

11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the water absorbing material is a polyester-based water absorbing membrane.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the voltage applied to the electrodes is between 1 kV and 6 kV, inclusive.

13 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising a function generator configured to send a control signal to the voltage source.

14 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the control signal is rectangular wave, duration of the signal is 40 seconds, and duty cycle is 0.5.

15 . An all-liquid electrorheological (ER) fluid comprising:
a mixture of about 85-95 wt % silicon oil and about 5-15 wt % water, wherein the silicon oil and water are uniformly mixed; and the mixture exhibits electrorheological effects when an outside voltage is applied to the mixture.

16 . The all-liquid ER fluid of claim 15 , wherein the amount of silicon oil present is 90 wt % and the amount of water present is 90 wt %.

Assignees

• Univ Hong Kong Science & Tech

Inventors

• Sheng Ping
• Zhang Bing
• Li Xiaolin
• Chen Shuyu
• Wen Weijia

Classifications

• C10M2229/025

  used as base material · CPC title

• C10M2201/02

  Water · CPC title

• C10N2070/00

  Specific manufacturing methods for lubricant compositions · CPC title

• F16D2037/001

  Electric arrangements for clutch control · CPC title

• C10M171/001 Primary

  Electrorheological fluids; smart fluids · CPC title